Windsor teen crowdfunds his way to theatre dreams
Windsor resident, Rowan Alice, is asking for his hometown’s help as he takes a big step towards his theatre dreams.
After securing a coveted acceptance email from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, the 18-year-old kicked off a crowdfunding campaign to manage the big expenses of moving to the Big Apple.
“First, I started crying because I got in, and I called everyone I knew… then I started crying because I was like, how am I going to afford to live in New York for two years?” Alice said.
His decision to apply for the school, which boasts notable alumni like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Anthony Ramos, Mike Faist, and Jason Derulo, came on impulse while watching TV one day.
“I sent in an application on my phone and then scheduled an interview that day,” said Alice.
“Then like three months later, I’m sitting on a Zoom call auditioning. And two weeks later I check my email and it said, ‘welcome to AMDA.’”
That’s when conflicting emotions came into play, according to Alice.
His love of theatre often competed with his family’s financial situation.
Difficult days as a child living below the poverty line were made better by his moments in the spotlight.
“Whenever I was up on the stage, it was kind of like it didn’t matter,” he said.
“People weren’t judging me. I got to be free from everything for a minute.”
In recent years, Alice has taken part in numerous productions with Windsor’s Arts Collective Theatre (ACT).
This past spring, he starred as Jack Kelly in the local production of Newsies.
It was also during that time he started a GoFundMe campaign, inspired by his mother and the Newsies director.
“Even if no one donated, at least it gets my story out there, right?” he said.
He set a goal of $7,500 and, as of Tuesday, had raised $2,500.
His friends at ACT were happy to see him going for his dream.
“This is huge,” said Moya McAlister, ACT Vice President.
McAlister said it’s “a big deal” for Alice to have made it into AMDA.
“And we were so proud to hear.”
She said she wasn’t surprised, calling Alice “a star.”
Alice will co-star in this fall’s ACT production of Rent, which is scheduled to run from October 4-12.
Within days of taking his last bow in that show, he’ll be in New York City with the help of some generous friends and neighbors.
“I'm just grateful for everybody donating. It's still not even real to me that people are helping like that,” said Alice.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING James Earl Jones, acclaimed actor and voice of Darth Vader, dies at 93
James Earl Jones, who overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen — eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, 'The Lion King' and Darth Vader — has died. He was 93.
Alberta protesters get 6 1/2-year sentences for roles in Coutts border blockade
Two men have been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison for their roles in the blockade of the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta.
Quebec village preparing for 370 per cent hike in property taxes
Residents in the small Quebec village of Danford Lake may soon be priced out of their homes, as property valuations and taxes are set to skyrocket.
BREAKING Harvey Weinstein undergoes emergency heart surgery
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was rushed to a hospital from a New York City prison on Sunday and underwent heart surgery on Monday, his representatives said.
BREAKING 'Peter Nygard is a sexual predator:' Former fashion mogul sentenced to 11 years in prison
Former Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. The sentence was handed to Nygard, 83, by Ontario Superior Court Justice Robert Goldstein in Toronto on Monday. Last November, a jury found Nygard guilty of four counts of sexual assault following a six-week trial.
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to join Liberal Party as special adviser
Former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney will be joining the Liberal Party as a special adviser. In an official press release on Monday, the party says Carney will serve as the chair of a leader's task force on economic growth.
John and Matthew Gaudreau are mourned by the hockey community, family and friends at their funeral
John and Matthew Gaudreau were remembered as loving brothers and husbands who put family above hockey and everything else at a tearful funeral held Monday, a week and a half after they died when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, 'doing what I can to stay cancer free' after finishing chemotherapy
Catherine, Princess of Wales, has said she has completed her chemotherapy and is 'doing what I can to stay cancer free,' as she plans to return gradually to public life in the months ahead.
opinion Princess of Wales, after gruelling chemotherapy, offers words of hope for fellow cancer patients
Royal commentator Afua Hagan says the Princess of Wales' announcement that she's completed her course of preventative chemotherapy marks a significant milestone in her recovery from the illness discovered following abdominal surgery earlier this year, and a massive relief for the Royal Family.