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Samuel Nimmons will be performing at the Asheville Community Theater, and UNC-A Lipinsky Auditorium.
Photo Thomas Jankowski.

Most of us have had times in our life when we wished we were someone else. We might have been overwhelmed by the burden of bad days, bad months, and of things never going our way.

by Thomas Jankowski

Sometimes wanting to run away from ourselves is unavoidable, feeling chased by envy of others who seem to have it all, the people whom problems always seem to avoid. Asheville resident Samuel Nimmons is no different from the rest of us, except that he might have found an answer to the dilemma.

Born and reared in Orangeburg, SC, Samuel excelled academically at Wilkinson High School. He was elected his class president, served as the school’s drama club liaison, and sang in the school choir. He graduated in the top ten percent of his class and was awarded an Academic Scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University.

 

While pursuing a degree in economics and accounting, he became an
advocate for civil rights. He became an active member of the NAACP and
the Black Panthers, and he strove for racial equality and harmony.

Joining the United States Army in 1971, he served stateside as well as
a tour in the Korean theatre. During his stateside service he met and
married his wife, Bernice.

After leaving the Army in 1974, Samuel moved to the Charlotte area,
where he worked a variety of jobs to support himself and his wife. In
1978 his daughter Natasha arrived. But even by this time, adversity was
creeping into his life, and over the next years constant labor with
little apparent reward was taking him down, one step at a time.

In 2002 the flattening blow was struck: Bernice passed away. This was
more than he could handle, more than his heart could endure. He left
his job, and found himself living in complete isolation. For the next
six years he was on a path to self-destruction, until 2008, when the
heart of a daughter reached out and pulled him back.

He took up residence at ABCCM’s Veteran Restoration Quarters, where he
began his difficult climb. Once on the new path, the path to recovery,
Samual advanced quickly, and he soon became a member of the staff,
earning the respect of others – and himself.

Then one day, while in downtown Asheville seeking employment, he
happened across the Asheville Community Theatre. Having acted back in
his high school days he thought seeing a show would bring back happier
memories. He approached the ticket booth and inquired about the
performances. To his surprise, the lady inside told him that he would
be a great candidate for a role being cast. The challenge was set
before him, and he dreamed of a comeback to a proud life.

Samuel went to the audition with weak hopes, but he was accepted right
away. The play was “The Heiress,” directed by Roselynn Katz of ACT’s
senior theatre company, the Autumn Players, and he was cast for two
character parts. Three shows were scheduled and performed, two at the
small theatre, “35below,” in the ACT building, and one at the Reuters
Center at UNCA. The shows were a great success earning praise and
standing ovations from audiences.

Samuel Nimmons was back. Pride, fortitude, goals, personality, and his
energy were on an unstoppable rise. He has found the answer – through
being someone else! Stepping into a character onstage can perform a
miracle on a possibly helpless case, bringing a man back to life – and
to great applause.

The story does not end there. Samuel will be on stage again, performing
in the play “Playboy of the Western World.” Performances are scheduled
for July31 and August 1 at 35 below, and August 2 at the Reuters Center
at UNCA. For more information, call Asheville Community Theatre at
(828) 254-1320.