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Acting chops

Drama class, performing on stage boosted Alan Hickey’s self-esteem as a teen. Alan Hickey’s self-esteem as a teen.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL ≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

cting is in Alan Hickey’s blood. Performing on stage has been the Ocala mental health counselor’s lifeblood in high school, college, and community theater groups where he has won outstanding performance awards. In February, he took part in the Gainesville Film Festival, where participants were given a theme and 72 hours to submit a nished product.

“It’s a thrill to be a deeper part of the creative process,” says Alan, who also aspires to act on stage of Studio Theatre at Tierra del Sol in The Villages.

“I would love to perform in any production of the Studio Theatre,” he says, adding that he’s impressed by the current fth season lineup: “It has an overarching theme for empowering women. Their tagline ‘Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History,’ is an amazing way to commemorate the centennial of the su rage movement.”

Alan credits drama for enriching his life when he needed it most. He had just moved to Florida from New Mexico after his parents’ divorce when a Forest High School guidance counselor suggested, “Why don’t you try a drama class?”

The class and being on stage became the self-esteem boost Alan needed, which

led to performing in the International Hickey’s blood. Thespian Society Florida District Performing on stage 12 competitions, all thanks to his has been the Ocala mentor Chad Taylor. mental health counselor’s “He gave me pointers on stage lifeblood in high school, presence, the importance of comedic college, and community pacing, and most importantly, how theater groups where to harness my anxious energy. he has won outstanding ‘You don’t have to be amazing, just performance awards. don’t suck,’” Alan recalls of Chad’s In February, he took advice. “It was such a simple shift in part in the Gainesville approach, yet amazingly e ective at Film Festival, where reducing anxiety and stage fright, participants were and widely applicable today to those given a theme needing to give a presentation.” and 72 hours to Alan also performed Shakespeare in submit a nished product. college, “where I developed a deep love

“It’s a thrill to be a deeper part of the for the language, prose, and the iambic creative process,” says Alan, who also pentameter for which Shakespeare aspires to act on stage of Studio Theatre wrote.” Alan treasures two drama at Tierra del Sol in The Villages. awards most, for “Best Actor” and

“I would love to perform in any “Outstanding Performance,” awarded production of the Studio Theatre,” he to him and his co-star, Chip Morris, for says, adding that he’s impressed by the their two-man show, “Jump” in 2003. current fth season lineup: “It has an “It was a wonderful exercise in acting overarching theme for empowering chops,” recalls Alan. women. Their tagline ‘Well Behaved He cherishes life with his favorite Women Seldom Make History,’ is an performer, his daughter, Alba, who will amazing way to commemorate the be 10 in May. “She’s the most amazing centennial of the su rage movement.” marshmallow-cheeked cutie patootie I’ve

Alan credits drama for enriching his ever seen and has a way of captivating life when he needed it most. He had just my attention like no one else with her moved to Florida from New Mexico after stories. She tells me about her dreams his parents’ divorce when a Forest High each morning she remembers them School guidance counselor suggested, and I’m in awe of her mind. She’d like “Why don’t you try a drama class?” to be a director when she grows up, so

The class and being on stage became I would absolutely love to act in one of the self-esteem boost Alan needed, which her lms.”

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