Local actress Khalilah Smith struck a chord with judges during Wednesday's Acting for Success competition, winning a chance to perform at the Apollo Theater and a full scholarship to a noted school for entertainers.

The event was the final in the 2008 Success Series organised by KDB Entertainment. Ms Smith will now join winning singers and select contestants from two previous competitions – Singing for Success – in a performance at the famed New York hall next month before heading off to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater to hone her skills.

The Devonshire resident, who most recently took centre stage in the Gilbert & Sullivan production of 'The Full Monty', won over five other females hoping to secure the top prize – Tramaine Stovell, Samantha Astwood, Nicole Da Ponte, Shara Trott and Dennika Warren. As part of the competition each actress was required to perform in a handful of 15-minute plays chosen by Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater director and Acting for Success judge, Harold Baldridge.

"I felt that everyone was very strong in their performances," Ms Smith told The Royal Gazette after her win. "I never felt that I had one up on them and I felt that my scene partners were great.

"It was phenomenal working with them."

The actress said she struggled with the decision to audition because she already has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) but is now eager to return to school for additional training.

The audience seemed to be impressed by all performances. Each of the short plays at the City Hall Theatre were received with hearty rounds of applause and Mr. Baldridge said he felt all the contestants deserved to win as all showed tremendous talent.

Ms Smith and Ms Stovell took the stage for the the opening act, an hilarious piece entitled 'Aspiring Francine'. Ms Stovell played Francine, a bubbly administrative assistant who becomes frighteningly aware that she is being watched by an audience. Her boss, played Ms Smith, thinks that she has lost her marbles – only Francine can see the audience.

This play was an exciting start to the extraordinary entertainment that was to follow.

Said Ms Stovell: "I really enjoyed this experience. I found it very difficult to prepare in such a short span of time but I'm extremely pleased at my performance."

She said that she will continue to pursue acting and singing.

Samantha Astwood, 17, and Shara Trott, 16, took over the stage for 'Bone China', a heart-wrenching piece about dealing with death.

Although the girls seemed a little nervous during their performances they did a great job in getting the audience to believe the message.

Miss Trott described the play as her most difficult acting challenge to date: "I usually learn my lines from emotional memory and I have never lost anyone close to me before so I struggled to pull off that energy."

The next play involved a dramatic performance by Ms Stovell and Miss Warren. As a mother and daughter prepared for a catastrophic storm, the two seemed to have different concerns and priorities.

Miss Warren, who played the daughter, was trying to prepare the house for the storm and ensure their safety while Ms Stovell contemplated life issues.

'Broken Hearted', saw Miss Da Ponte in a state of limbo, trying to decide if she should return to her body and continue her life or die.

Miss Trott and Miss Astwood played characters that were already dead, trying to convince her to return to earth.

Miss Da Ponte did a very good job of connecting with her character and getting the audience to believe her contemplation.

She said of her overall performance: "I was really scared and I felt like I was going to die but I think I did a very good job."

After a brief intermission the audience was entertained again by Ms Smith and Ms Stovell in part two of 'Firing Francine'. The pair had the audience in stitches.

'Tell Me About This Guy' featured Miss Astwood and Miss Da Ponte. The play appeared difficult play to pull off – the characters had to tell their story without actually finishing their sentences, relying instead on body language and facial expressions to get their message across.

When asked what was the most challenging part of her experience, Miss Astwood said: "Competing against people and being friends. I know that only one person can win but I think we all did a great job."

Miss Warren and Ms Smith did a good job in the penultimate performance '36C' which featured two characters having two different conversations with each other at the same time – about brassieres.

Ms Smith played a research student who seemed obsessed in her study of bras and how they effect the human race and the other character, the store clerk played by Miss Warren, seem to have the same passion for encouraging the research student to buy a proper brassier.

Miss Warren said of her overall performances: "I think I did great. I put my best foot forward and maintained a good attitude throughout."

She intends to continue acting and in January will head to the New York Film Academy to study.

The final performance, 'Mouse' featured Miss Da Ponte, Miss Trott and Miss Warren. The comedy focused on three roommates and their relationship with the mouse who had taken up residence in their home.

Miss Da Ponte wanted to save the mouse, Miss Trott wanted to kill the mouse and Miss Warren acted as mediator – a very funny performance.

Said Mr. Baldridge: "I watched these six put their hearts and souls into their performances and I encourage all of them to keep working, keep doing plays and to work on their voice and speech."

Added KDB producer Kevin Bean: "November 9, 2008, marks a very big day for the Success Series as well as Bermuda. We will become the first Bermudians to produce a show at the Apollo Theater in New York City. Ms Smith will join the cast of 27 as we travel to the world famous venue to showcase Bermuda's talent."