From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Chasing the Dream

Meet some of the aspiring actors and actresses at two South Florida colleges.

by Barbara Lester

June 28 2006

Dusty St. Amand
19, Cape Coral

Third year at the New World School of the Arts

Why do you want to be an actor?

To further understand myself and how I fit into humanity. And to get the performance rush.

To what level of acting do you aspire?

Owning a theater company, teaching acting, Broadway and any huge city.

Do you prefer theater or film?

Theater.

When did you know you wanted to be an actor?

I absolutely knew when I came to New World School of the Arts.

Do you have a personal hero, someone who influenced your choice of acting as a profession?

Stuart Meltzer, my scene studies teacher.

What do your parents think about your pursuing acting?

They love it. My performing is a treat for them.

Andrea Heighes
19, Plantation

Second year at Broward Community College

What is your acting experience?

I have mostly been backstage, but I have done shows for family members, in middle school and, in college, an acting showcase.

Why do you want to be an actress?

I love the theater. It's my passion. I respect actors because of their knowledge. I love all aspects of being an actor.

Is anyone is your family in show business?

My grandmother is in opera and sings many solos in Lima, Peru.

Do you plan to go to New York or Los Angeles to pursue acting?

New York, because of Broadway.

What do your parents think about your pursuing acting?

At first, they were shocked, but now, they are more flexible and allowing me to pursue it. They are happy that I'm happy.

Ryan Sirois
22, Pembroke Pines

Third year at Broward Community College

What is your acting experience?

I have been acting from a very early age in stage and film. Previous works includes The House of Yes, Flowers for Algernon and Fools.

Why do you want to be an actor?

Because acting exists in my everyday life. It is a passion that you live and breathe.

Do you prefer theater or film?

I prefer theater mainly because the productions run from start to finish. There are no stops like in film.

Do you plan to go to New York or Los Angeles to pursue acting?

I plan on going to Los Angeles for film.

What do your parents think about your pursuing acting?

They support me; however, they would rather that I have a steady career to fall back on.

Ifat Kent
26, Davie

Second year at Broward Community College

What is your acting experience?

I participated in Bat Boy the Musical at BCC. I sing with the Jazz Combo at BCC and also sang with the Seahawk Singers where we did Songs for a New World.

Why do you want to be an actress?

There's a great rush about being onstage, revealing yourself to people you don't know and might never meet in your lifetime. But in a way, you are giving them a piece of yourself to take, a memory of an emotion, or an experience. It's such an amazing way to share yourself with so many people.

When did you know you wanted to be an actress?

I knew I wanted to be an actress when I was very young, but as I grew older, I changed my mind. Recently, I changed it again. It was my insecurities and fears that [had] made me change my mind, but I realized there's really nothing else for me to do. That's the only thing that will make me happy.

Do you plan to go to New York or Los Angeles to pursue acting?

I want to move to New York soon to pursue a career in musical theater.

Allysa Tacher
21, Miami

Second year at Broward Community College

What is your acting experience?

I started acting when I was 7. I joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1994. In 1995, I was in a film titled Curdled, filmed in Miami. Recently, I was in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

To what level of acting do you aspire?

I plan to move to Los Angeles and pursue a family sitcom and film.

Do you prefer theater or film?

I was in film until last year, and through my experience at BCC, I've found a new love for theater.

When did you know you wanted to be an actress?

After I took a hiatus from the business for high-school cheerleading, I missed acting so much.