Bow actor wins competition for trials in New York
A BUDDING actor is travelling to New York to take part in a prestigious contest after impressing judges during the London heats of a stage battle.
Andy Seaman, 32, of Watts Grove, Bow is one of five actors chosen to compete in the Monologue Slam in Manhattan next month.
He got his lucky break after making it through the rounds at the UK version of the competition at Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, in Bethnal Green Road last week.
The actor’s monologue from Shakespeare’s Othello and another from Dennis Kelly play Osama The Hero allowed him to beat off stiff competition from 25 other hopefuls for the place on the trip.
Mr Seaman, who has been acting since he was 17, said: “It’s a very big deal for me. America is America and anything is possible.
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“I don’t think any of us have been to New York before so it will be a wonderful opportunity.”
After graduating from Wapping’s Actor Works last year, Andy won a part in ITV series The Bill, which he filmed in April.
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But he hopes to meet many more casting directors, or industry ninjas as they are dubbed, in New York.
Monologue Slam is a free actors’ showcase which allows those who may be between jobs or trying to get their big break to practise their performance skills.
The organisers said: “We feel that most actors in the UK can go three to five months without having an audition, which causes nerves and can affect their next audition.
“We offer the chance to treat it like a casting.”
Mr Seaman was judged by a casting director from BBC medical series Holby City and heavyweight Jeremy Zimmerman, who carried out the casting for 1991 flick Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, among other industry experts.
He is due to fly to America on November 8 for six days.
