Dellon
While running away from trouble at Tilden High School in Brooklyn, Dellon Griffith ran into something he was not expecting. “I ran into the classroom by accident, saw what the kids in Opening Act were doing and watched for a while. I just had a thing for it after that.” Dellon joined Opening Act soon after and says the experience quickly changed his commitment to school and other activities. “My football coach saw a big change in my character after joining Opening Act,” Dellon comments. “The group made me realize that if you start something you should finish it.” Dellon has since graduated high school, and says the lessons learned from Opening Act stay with him. “I remember my first and last performances. I was so nervous my first time, I was shaking. Then after my final performance senior year, I sat down on the stage and thought ‘I can’t believe I actually did it! I tried something and succeeded at it.’ Now I know I can do that with any life goal.” Dellon is currently attending college and plans to become an EMT for the NYC Fire Department.
While running away from trouble at Tilden High School in Brooklyn, Dellon Griffith ran into something he was not expecting. “I ran into the classroom by accident, saw what the kids in Opening Act were doing and watched for a while. I just had a thing for it after that.” Dellon joined Opening Act soon after and says the experience quickly changed his commitment to school and other activities. “My football coach saw a big change in my character after joining Opening Act,” Dellon comments. “The group made me realize that if you start something you should finish it.” Dellon has since graduated high school, and says the lessons learned from Opening Act stay with him. “I remember my first and last performances. I was so nervous my first time, I was shaking. Then after my final performance senior year, I sat down on the stage and thought ‘I can’t believe I actually did it! I tried something and succeeded at it.’ Now I know I can do that with any life goal.” Dellon is currently attending college and plans to become an EMT for the NYC Fire Department.
Jamila
Jamila Brown, an alumni of Cobble Hill School for American Studies in Brooklyn, is now in college at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. She recently gave a speech in her public speaking class in praise of Opening Act. Here’s a quick snippet: “Opening Act helped me discover who I was. Every day they would push us to the limit and take us out of our comfort zone. They have given me the confidence to take risks; this past year I was able to audition at Stella Adler for professional acting classes and succeed because of what they taught me. They have made things that seemed impossible to do – possible. And not only have they taught me the craft of acting but things that I can apply to life such as diligence and determination. I wish that Opening Act were here right now to hear me give them praise because they definitely deserve it. I look at my surroundings [at college] and where I am in life and think to myself: This is my stage to conquer; with professors as directors, books as lights, and me with the title role – waiting for my review.”
Jamila Brown, an alumni of Cobble Hill School for American Studies in Brooklyn, is now in college at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. She recently gave a speech in her public speaking class in praise of Opening Act. Here’s a quick snippet: “Opening Act helped me discover who I was. Every day they would push us to the limit and take us out of our comfort zone. They have given me the confidence to take risks; this past year I was able to audition at Stella Adler for professional acting classes and succeed because of what they taught me. They have made things that seemed impossible to do – possible. And not only have they taught me the craft of acting but things that I can apply to life such as diligence and determination. I wish that Opening Act were here right now to hear me give them praise because they definitely deserve it. I look at my surroundings [at college] and where I am in life and think to myself: This is my stage to conquer; with professors as directors, books as lights, and me with the title role – waiting for my review.”
Luis
As a high school freshman, Luis Arzu wasn’t sure where he fit in the social structure of Gompers High School in the Bronx. “I knew there was a community there, but I just wasn’t a part of it,” says Luis, 16. That was until two teaching artists from Opening Act came into his English class and spread the word about the theater group. Luis remembers, “Until then, I didn’t get a lot out of school. I came in the morning and left in the afternoon. Opening Act offered me a place to belong.” Not only a place to belong, Luis says, but also an opportunity to explore who he was as an actor and a new high school student. “It’s baby steps, you know? First, I became a part of the Opening Act community and then I found my place in the bigger community at Gompers.” In Luis’s junior year, he auditioned for the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Of 60 students citywide who auditioned, Luis was chosen to join the esteemed group. “It’s a privilege and an honor. Opening Act taught me if you want something you have to put yourself out there. It’s the best thing that happened to me.”
As a high school freshman, Luis Arzu wasn’t sure where he fit in the social structure of Gompers High School in the Bronx. “I knew there was a community there, but I just wasn’t a part of it,” says Luis, 16. That was until two teaching artists from Opening Act came into his English class and spread the word about the theater group. Luis remembers, “Until then, I didn’t get a lot out of school. I came in the morning and left in the afternoon. Opening Act offered me a place to belong.” Not only a place to belong, Luis says, but also an opportunity to explore who he was as an actor and a new high school student. “It’s baby steps, you know? First, I became a part of the Opening Act community and then I found my place in the bigger community at Gompers.” In Luis’s junior year, he auditioned for the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Of 60 students citywide who auditioned, Luis was chosen to join the esteemed group. “It’s a privilege and an honor. Opening Act taught me if you want something you have to put yourself out there. It’s the best thing that happened to me.”
Stephanie
Reading wasn’t something Stephanie Rodriguez took pride in or enjoyed. “Growing up, reading was always a struggle. I didn’t like to do it because I didn’t do it very well,” Stephanie reflects. As an incoming freshman at Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn, Stephanie was given a flyer by an Opening Act teaching artist. “There were things at home I couldn’t express. I figured it was a chance to be myself and open up.” Through Opening Act, Stephanie found new ways of expressing her everyday experiences. “I never really kept a diary, but writing monologues for characters lets my feelings come out with pen and paper.” Now a junior, Stephanie attributes her newfound interest in reading and writing to her time spent with Opening Act. “The only way to learn about a character is to open your mind and let the information in. I really like reading, it feeds your mind.” Free expression of ideas and a supportive atmosphere is what Stephanie says has kept her in Opening Act for the past two years. “I wanted to do this for me, to find people who wanted to listen, to share my talents.”
Reading wasn’t something Stephanie Rodriguez took pride in or enjoyed. “Growing up, reading was always a struggle. I didn’t like to do it because I didn’t do it very well,” Stephanie reflects. As an incoming freshman at Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn, Stephanie was given a flyer by an Opening Act teaching artist. “There were things at home I couldn’t express. I figured it was a chance to be myself and open up.” Through Opening Act, Stephanie found new ways of expressing her everyday experiences. “I never really kept a diary, but writing monologues for characters lets my feelings come out with pen and paper.” Now a junior, Stephanie attributes her newfound interest in reading and writing to her time spent with Opening Act. “The only way to learn about a character is to open your mind and let the information in. I really like reading, it feeds your mind.” Free expression of ideas and a supportive atmosphere is what Stephanie says has kept her in Opening Act for the past two years. “I wanted to do this for me, to find people who wanted to listen, to share my talents.”
