Six local actors will vie for a scholarship to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in the final instalment of the 2008 Success Series tonight.

Each will perform in eight, 15-minute plays at the City Hall Theatre to win Acting for Success, the final in a series of talent competitions organised by Kevin Bean of KDB Entertainment.

The aim of the Success Series is to hone the skills of gifted individuals and also provide them with an education. The first two competitions, both called Singing for Success, saw scholarships to Berklee College of Music and the LA Music School presented to each winner.

The winners and selected contestants will perform at the famed Apollo Theatre in New York City next month. The event will be co-produced by Mr. Bean and will represent the first time a Bermudian has organised a production there.

The winner of tonight's event will receive a full scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater, an institution that has trained such noted thespians as Diane Keaton, Gregory Peck, Steve McQueen, Leslie Neilson, Jeff Goldblum, Kate Winslet and many others. The scholarship pays for a year's tuition – half was donated by the college, the remainder was raised by KDB Entertainment.

The successful actor will receive training in a range of performance art forms – voice and speech, movement, ballet, the Martha Graham technique, stage combat, modern dance and acting for the camera.

The plays for tonight's competition were chosen by Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater director Harold Baldridge. He will also serve as a judge for the event.

He spoke to The Royal Gazette about what he would be looking for in the six contestants – Tramaine Stovell, Samantha Astwood, Nicole Da Ponte, Shara Trott, Dennika Warren and Khalilah Smith.

"As a judge I am looking at how they have taken to the material and they have taken to the direction that has been given to them and technical things like, can I hear them and what comes across the flood lights – all the things we look for in terms of talent," he said.

"I will try to inspire all of them. I am not there to be a nasty critic, I am there to kind of bolster them up and say, 'Look you are all terrific and I have to pick one and this is the one that I am picking, but the rest of you have done a wonderful (job)'.

"I will certainly do it that way because I don't think it is any good to put people down, especially in something like the arts where they are opening themselves up. Who knows – we have that happen – the kid who is full of inhibitions may have problems this month, next month they may suddenly have a breakthrough.

"A kid came down last week with tears in his eyes and he said, 'You should have been up there, I just had a wonderful moment'.

"Those are the joys of my job."

The contestants spoke to The Royal Gazette about how they became involved with the programme and their aspirations.

According to Miss Astwood, being an actress was inevitable for her.

"I was the kid who would always smile, put on shows and just have fun," said the 17 year old.

"I can't recall when I got into acting. I just remember being destined to do it. But it wasn't until I went to New York with my school that I realised how serious I felt about theatre. After that, I decided to take it as a higher-level subject in school and took it more seriously.

"Now that I have seen what theatre can be and can offer, my passion only grew stronger."

Regarding the Success Series she said: "I first heard the news about the show at the first Singing for Success when I went to watch Canjalae Taylor. And after she won our granny came to me and said, 'Yup baby, that's for you.'

"I didn't actually plan on auditioning because I get so nervous, but I came to my senses and realised there was nothing to lose."

Like the other five contestants, Miss Astwood is hoping to win.

"I am, because getting through the auditions was what I needed to prove to myself I am capable," said the Warwick resident.

"Theatre is my life and my passion, and to attend a school that helps aspiring actors to become great actors, there is no way I couldn't be prepared."

She added that she has already gained so much just by participating.

"I have had the chance to have a serious audition, and understand the process taken.

"I have gained friends and learned many things. I have had the true experience of being given a character that is set in stone – no negotiating out of it to get what I want.

"I have been given a taste of the real world of theatre for once in my life."

Her thoughts of the Success Series' initiatives and next month's first-ever Bermudian produced performance at the Apollo Theater are that it is simply "a dream come true".

"There is nothing you can lose and yet so much to gain," she said.

"This is exactly the inspiration young Bermudians need. With people encouraging you and such generous hearts helping, I feel that the Success Series is nothing but a success.

"The Apollo on the other hand is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I cannot begin to feel the satisfaction you would get by simply standing on the stage – let alone perform. It's something that I want, and it is very motivational."

Another Warwick resident, Miss Stovell, had her debut role in last year's Gilbert and Sullivan production of the Broadway hit 'Dreamgirls'. She shone in the lead role of Deena Jones.

"I must say that I had no idea I would love and appreciate acting so much," she said of her first experience.

"It's a new-found passion which I continue to explore."

She followed that performance with a second G&S production, 'Ragtime', and also captured the starring role of Esther in the Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society's performance of the play 'Intimate Apparel'.

"Acting for Success caught my attention while I was following the Singing for Success series through newspaper articles," she recalled.

With those experiences under he belt she says that she is ready to head off to the Neighborhood Playhouse to study.

"By participating in this event, as an avid student I hope to gain more knowledge about the acting arena and what I am able to contribute.

"The Success Series is affording Bermudians the opportunity to grow. It encourages people to prepare for success. There is pride and a sense of accomplishment that is synonymous with The Success Series.

"The scholarship awards are a great incentive for anyone who is sincere about studying.

"Being included in the Apollo Show is very interesting and would be a life-changing experience."

Miss Da Ponte first got into acting when she joined the drama club in primary six.

"I had just given up being a cross country runner and wanted to try something new," said the 17 year old.

"When we performed a scene from 'Macbeth' in assembly, I knew it was something I really enjoyed but it wasn't until my first year in middle school that the acting bug had bitten me.

"I participated in my school production of 'The Labyrinth' and I loved every aspect of it: opening night, long rehearsals, the excited yet nervous feeling you get just before the curtain opens.

"From there I went on to continue to perform in more school productions."

After her second play she decided she really wanted to excel as an actress.

"I am a very artistic person and I love all different types of arts – both visual and performing. I loved how acting really allowed me to express this creativity. Because of this, it's something I have always been keen on excelling in."

She first heard about Acting for Success through one of her friends Aimee Bento who performed in the first Singing for Success competition.

"We were discussing it and she said to me, 'You know there is going to be an acting one,' and I thought, 'I want to audition for that'."

Miss Da Ponte feels that the time is ideal as she just began her senior year at high school.

"I am looking at different universities, so it is the perfect time," said the Warwick resident.

"I am fully prepared to begin the next phase of my life and study at the Neighborhood Playhouse, as I am just about to finish one in my life."

Asked what she hopes to achieve, she said: "I hope I will gain the opportunity to show Bermuda my talents, and to improve and learn more about acting as I am getting the opportunity to work with very talented people.

"I am very grateful and I think it is such a good show; it brings together a lot of people and gives them the opportunity to learn and grow from each other.

"The Apollo is such an amazing opportunity that could open up a lot of doors for performers – that will be unforgettable – and without the success series may have not been possible."

Miss Smith, of Devonshire, has been in several local productions including 'Tony & Tina's Wedding', 'Dreamgirls' and 'Ragtime'.

She first discovered musical theatre in high school.

"I fell in love because it encompassed all three disciplines of acting, dancing and singing," said the actress who most recently appeared onstage as the principal female character in this month's G&S production of 'The Full Monty'.

After hearing about Acting for Success through the newspaper, she decided that she was "absolutely ready to head off to school".

"There is so much I look forward to gain from this exciting opportunity including experience, exposure and professional development."

Miss Warren, another contestant for tonight's show, decided that it was an opportunity not to be missed.

"I first got into acting in high school," she said.

"I fell in love with it and when I began to be consistently cast in the lead role, I knew it was what I wanted to do.

"I feel it is the best opportunity Bermuda has offered to us. I feel it is a once in a lifetime experience – it's about time."

However acting wasn't always what she wanted to do. "It was actually hairdressing, but once I turned 16 I felt like acting was me."

Smith's Parish resident Shara Trott fell in love with the performing arts after seeing 'West Side Story' at CedarBridge Academy.

"I thought what they were doing was so amazing, and I decided to give acting a try and I fell in love with it," she said.

After hearing about Acting for Success from a friend, the 17 year old decided that she just had to enter.

"If chosen, I am most definitely ready to study at Neighborhood Playhouse," she said.

"I think that it is an extremely reputable school and it will open my eyes to many new and interesting things.

"By participating in this experience I hope to gain outside knowledge of the theatre and how it works.

"These are very different plays, and I am forced to push myself out of my comfort zone. So far I have learned so much about myself as an actress and a person."

Acting for Success opens tonight at the City Hall Theatre at 7.30 p.m. Tickets, $40, are available from www.boxoffice.bm and will also be available at the theatre.