Summer drama school

Xavior Love is an 11th grade student in Anchorage, Alaska, attending the second most diverse high school in the United States, which is also a Title 1 school. He loves acting and intends to make it his future career. To that end, Xavior applied for a spot in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts’ summer Advanced 5 Week Encore Program. For more information about this program, see https://www.aada.edu/programs/summer-encore/ . This is an amazing opportunity for a talented young actor to receive professional training and industry experience.  This is a highly select program; in fact, Xavior was one of just 12 students from the United States that was accepted to the program. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts has educated other actors like Anne Hathaway, Adrien Brody, Jessica Chastain, and the list goes on. This is an opportunity he will likely never have again, and it will give him the ability to receive professional training that he could never receive in Anchorage, Alaska, training that he will be able to bring back home to Alaska to share with his fellow student actors in his senior year. 

This kind of professional training for five weeks does not come cheaply.  The cost of the program tuition alone is $3,750.  He still needs to have the money for a roundtrip plane ticket from Alaska to California, which is about $580 right now. Additionally, housing and board during the five weeks is an additional $2,175. He must pay for his tuition and housing by June 1st.  Xavior has some money saved up, but certainly not enough to do this on his own. He needs our help. 

If any of you have seen Xavior act, you know how deeply passionate he is about his craft and how serious he is about pursuing his dream. Xavior is truly a one-of-a-kind student, someone that I have a strong feeling will make it big one day. This opportunity will boost his contacts, which are so very important in the acting industry.  Further, this training will be able to take Xavior to the next level of reaching his other dream: getting into Juilliard.  If you don’t know much about Xavior, check out the video of his acting highlights, including the audition videos that earned him a spot in this program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-bQXbdW3Nw

You may be asking yourself why Xavior can’t afford this on his own. Xavior manages to work part time at a local movie theater in addition to taking three Advanced Placement classes, competing in DDF (Drama, Debate, Forensics), and being part of every single theatrical production at our school. Additionally, he is trying to earn money by acting in local area theatre for a small pittance.  Xavior’s family does not have the means to pay for this program either.  He lives with his older brother and his mother,  Simalua Toeleiu, 
who is the sole provider for her family. She currently works two jobs just to make enough money to pay basic bills. Internet isn't even a reliable resource for their home let alone the funds necessary to help pay the cost of this camp.

To be honest, Xavior didn’t really consider the cost of the program. He didn’t think he would get accepted given the very low acceptance rate.  He decided to give it a try anyway, putting financial concerns to the side. This is where I stepped in.  I am his high school theatre director, and I just knew I had to help this young man pursue this dream. He is outrageously talented and just needs a helping hand up.  Anything you can give, and I mean anything, will change this young man’s life.  This will be an experience he will never forget, providing him with skills that will take him to the next level in his life goals.