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Dean at Times Square

Dean takes bite of "Big Apple"

By Michael Butler

New York City can be an intimidating place especially for a first-time visitor making a solo trip. Delena Dean traveled to the "Big Apple" with hopes of landing a role with upcoming productions.

"It was kind of intimidating," she said. "Everybody was doing their own thing. I'm very much and 'hi, hello, how are you doing' person. In the city, everybody's just whizzing past you."

Dean attended a conference in early January which got her auditions during her three days up north.

"Auditions were held in Connecticut. I took the train from New York City."

Dean (right) with Sarah Jane Patterson during a Missoula Children's Theatre perormance at Tallassee High School in 2016

Dean, a 2020 graduate and valedictorian at Tallassee High School, helped emcee the Capital City Classic show choir competition last weekend - an annual event she participated in herself while at THS. She is now a junior at Montevallo, majoring in the fine arts.

"I had to do a prerequisite audition over Zoom. They hosted that at my college. I was accepted for the musical theater audition and acting audition.

"I got to audition in front of a bunch of companies and work with some talent agents and casting directors. I got to learn a little about what the industry is like. I think I did pretty good."

She will now await a callback. Summer stock shows will run from May through August.

As for the big picture, Dean's aspirations are to just be a performer.

"I really want to perform in a lot of aspects. I'm singing covers. I'm really interested in music production. I play ukulele. I like acting in plays. Comedic acting is my forte."

*Dean performing "The Christmas Song"