Lee Strasberg Alumni - Backstage: They Got Cast!

“When I graduated from the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in June 2017, I signed up for Backstage a few months later. It’s where I received some of my first projects after graduating from acting school, so it’s kind of home to me.”
LSTFI alumnus, David Ventura

Since the inception of Backstage’s “I Got Cast”, a recurring series detailing the ways that the famed publication has been a reliable tool for up-and-coming actors, countless LSTFI alumni have been featured. Like David, who graduated from our Two Year Conservatory Program, each alumni shares their personal experience with Backstage, along with tips to make it through the early stages of your career. Keep scrolling to find advice from each alumni – and click their name to read the full interview!

An actor looks into the camera. He has dark curly hair and dark brown eyes. He is wearing a blue shirt and is standing in front of a blue background.

DAVID VENTURA

“Each day that you are thinking about your passion for acting, you are drawing closer and closer to the projects that you’ll be a part of and to the creative people you’ll meet. Always be passionate and you’ll continue to grow.”

An actor looks directly into the camera. He has dark hair and brown eyes. He is wearing earrings and a dark grey v-neck tee shirt.

ANREAD CLAUDIO RUSSO

“Apply for every role, try to get in as many projects as possible, and develop your craft—each time a little more. Observe; learn from professionals by watching how they work on set, look at the way they take direction. Be ready; be proactive.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has long, dark hair and strong, dark eyes. She is wearing a red tee shirt that shows off her collarbones.

TE’ENA KLEIN

“[Backstage] can help a lot with finding projects that are right for you, to not waste time scrolling through a bunch of irrelevant calls. I typically look for roles that excite and challenge me and that I know I will enjoy portraying.”

An actor looks directly into the camera. He has short brown hair and bright blue eyes. He is wearing a light grey crewneck shirt and stands in front of a bright blue background.

ANDRE VAUTHEY

“I’ve actually made friends with people on the other side of the table. That’s why being truly yourself and not what you think they want to see is so important: You might not get that specific project, but they will think of you once they do have something that matches you.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has bright blue eyes and light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. She wears a salmon colored crewneck and stands in front of a grey backdrop.

ANA CAPELLA

“I think that success, as with everything else in life, is relative. It depends on who you compare your success to. I am learning to compare mine to my own and acknowledge the goals I set for myself that have been accomplished. We need to learn to be grateful, encouraging, and gentle to ourselves in the smallest of achievements.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has bright blue eyes and long blonde hair. She is smiling, revealing very white teeth. She is wearing a blue tank top and is in front of a dark grey background.

FREYA LUND

“I always make sure I leave a good impression on anybody I work with. I think that is key to maintaining a healthy relationship with people in the field: Work hard and be professional. Kindness goes a long way in this industry.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has curly red hair, pulled back into an up-do. She has bright green eyes and a soft smile. She wears a brown tank top and stands in front of a dark grey backdrop.

SILVIA MORIGI

“I’m in New York; success is a word with many meanings. For me, I get the most out of my life as an actress when I know I’m 100 percent invested in putting myself out there, going for auditions not just to get the job, but to take a risk and learn something more every single time.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has long brown hair and an intense right-side part. She has brown eyes and a pink sleeveless blouse. She stands in front of an off-white backdrop.

RAIANE CANTISANO

“Dream big. Set goals for yourself, but stay open to all possibilities, and trust your gut. Know your strengths, but also try new things. Surprise yourself. This business is kind to those who work really hard but also know how to enjoy themselves in the process.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has black hair, dark brown eyes, and winged eyeliner. She is smiling. She wears a bright yellow shirt and stands in front of a pink background.

MAYA JASMIN

“Every film set is a great place to meet other filmmakers, theater makers, and actors, which can definitely lead to [future] projects together.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has long, brown hair and blue eyes. She wears a grey tank top and stands in front of a light grey background.

ROTEM WEINER

“I usually look for roles that look like they can challenge me but at the same time fit me. I love roles that portray strong women in a way that gives the actor a place to find the complexity of the character and not just scrape the surface of what a strong woman is—characters that are whole and rounded.”

An actor looks directly into the camera. He has blond hair, blue eyes, and an intense expression. He wears a green tee and a grey hooded jacket.

TERENCE SCHWEIZER

“Submit for everything you can get your hands on and gain experience in the real world. It’s important that you practice your craft, but also get used to the audition process, because it is very important when you finally get the chance to be in that room to own the space.”

An actor looks directly into the camera. He has light brown hair, blue eyes, and a dark blue collared shirt. He stands in front of a grey background.

FRANS DAM

“I try not to typecast myself too much, since I believe we all are completely different people on our worst and on our best days. It’s up to the circumstances to decide our behavior.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has shoulder-length dark brown hair, light brown eyes, and bright red lipstick. She wears a V-neck floral top.

ISRA ELSALIHIE

“I really try to challenge myself, so I often take on roles spanning many different categories to expand my sense of reality.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. She has short, red hair and pale blue eyes. She wears a grey tee shirt and stands in front of a dark background.

LAURA PRZYBILLA

“Believe in yourself and go after what you want. Don’t be afraid to humiliate yourself. The universe will give you everything you want if you believe in it.”

An actress looks directly into the camera. Her dark brown hair is up in a ponytail. She is wearing a black tank top and a yellow cardigan.

ALICIA CERÓN

“[Backstage] is always being updated with really interesting projects that are open to all kinds of ethnicities. In general, I focus on productions with a significant multicultural focus.”

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