Angelina Dries

Angelina Dries – Pennsylvania
Nomination & Photography by Jeff Levy of Stylography Studios
Issue 66 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Angelina (Angie) Dries is a talented singer, actress and model. In her junior year at Catasauqua High School Angie starred in the musical, "Chicago" as Roxie Hart. From that performance she was nominated in the Freddy Awards for "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. The Freddy Awards are produced by the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, Pennsylvania. For her senior year, she appears in “Pippin” as the Leading Player. Angie has had the privilege of singing the National Anthem at high school and other local sporting events. She is also a varsity cheerleader.
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Photography by Jeff Levy of Stylography Studios

Tell us more about your acting career.
I started at age 8, when I began Summer classes at The PA Playhouse for musical theater. There, we were split by age group, and each group put on their own performance at the end of the season to showcase our talents. Then, I was involved with my High School’s community theater group C.A.S.T, which I did up until high school. In eighth grade, I was fortunate enough to join my high school’s Drama Club, and began going up for acting classes there. We mostly did cold readings, improv, and character studies, which were all very beneficial to me at such a young age. From there on, with classes on my belt, I started vacating to different community theaters, such as Munopco, and back to the PA Playhouse where I did one show and a few cabarets. After that, I knew I wasn’t done just yet. So, I continued my journey by taking various masterclasses over Zoom, and thankfully after the pandemic, I was able to go to in-person classes as well. For my junior year of high school, I was nominated for my first ever Freddy Award for “Best Leading Actress in a Musical” (Roxie Hart; Chicago). I got to experience being on stage at The Freddy’s, which is something I have yearned for since I was a little girl. This year, as a senior, I performed my final role as Leading Player in our high school production of ‘Pippin’. Soon after graduation, I plan on taking my acting career to new heights.

What do you love most about acting?
What I love most about acting is that you can bring so much life to a character. You can go so deep into how that character you’re assigned to relate to you, take pieces of memory from your past and make connections to those feelings and emotions to build on to your character’s persona. There’s a sort of mysteriousness to how actors work their magic on screen and the stage, and I love hearing how they make it happen.

What was your character like as Roxie Hart and how could you relate to her?
I had a really deep connection to Roxie, a huge part of the reason being she was my first leading role with the Drama Club. There’s just something about her star-studded upbringing that made me think of me in a lot of ways, more or less. Other than her starting out as a murderer who shot her husband, then pretending to be pregnant for sympathy (haha!), I would say that what connected me most with her was her longing to be seen by the public, to be a star. She’d try anything to get noticed by reporters and have her cover in the papers.

What has the biggest challenge as an actress been?
My biggest challenge as an actress was when I was 16-17, it was more difficult to find castings because I was at that in-between age. Now, it’s a lot easier that I'm 18.

If you could play any role as an actress - what would it be and why?
Most definitely Lydia from Beetlejuice on Broadway! She has that teen angst that I'm sure most of us growing up could relate to, and is just such a powerful character to portray. Seeing so many different versions of her on stage, I feel like I could totally give my own spin on that role.

What is a favorite accomplishment from acting and why does it mean so much to you?
One of my favorite accomplishments from acting is gaining enough confidence at a young age to move forward with it as, not just a hobby, but as a career. This is something I plan on doing for the long run.

Photography by Jeff Levy of Stylography Studios

​What genre do you most enjoy singing? Do you have a favorite go to song and what is it if you do?
That’s funny you ask, cause I enjoy singing a variety of genres! Two genres that I can't get enough of are classic rock or 2000’s pop. My all time favorite go-to song at karaoke is Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac.

What has your cheer career been like?
 I began my freshman year as a junior varsity cheerleader, pre- pandemic. I then took a break from cheerleading sophomore and junior year, mainly because I wanted to ensure the health and safety of my grandmother living with me when COVID was more prevalent, and I was also focusing more on my acting career being online. Then, I came back to be in-school my senior year.
Tell us about your cheer team and a favorite memory with them.
One of my favorite memories with my cheer team was during senior night when I walked across the football field with my family, arm in arm, and the girls made a pathway for me and the other senior football players (I was the only senior cheerleader on the team). Seeing and hearing them cheer on either side of me as I go down the field with my family felt so rewarding that I've made it this far as, not just a senior, but as a person.

How did you find and why did you choose Jeff Levy of Stylography Studios for your photographer?
They actually found me! I was contacted by Jeff over Instagram one day, and he was simply congratulating me on singing the national anthem for one of the first times ever at my school. He then went on to say that he noticed that I had an interest in modeling, and wanted to know if I'd like to do my senior photos over at his studio. Not only that, but he offered me 2 hours of a fashion-styled shoot that incorporates themes of my acting/singing. So of course I took up that deal haha!

What was your experience like? What did you love most about it?
It felt like a legit fashion shoot, like I had two women at a time doing my hair and makeup, a clothing rack in the order of outfits I picked online to wear for each background. And it was SO much fun! I think what I loved most about it were the shoes. Some of those shoes, let me tell you, it was like something you’d see on the runway. They ranged from pumps, to chunky heels, to long stiletto boots with a 4 inch heel. And I had to walk up two flights of stairs with them, which was definitely a challenge, but a fun challenge!

Photography by Jeff Levy of Stylography Studios

​What do you love most about being in the Drama Club?
What I love most about the drama club is the sense of togetherness and the relationships you develop there. As president of the group, I gave my all to these students, and helped recruit newcomers into the club. I wanted everyone to feel safe and welcomed, that they are supported for just being themselves. Further on into lessons (before rehearsals), alongside Brenda and Kerry Mcguire, I helped conduct activities that would engage our group into expressing themselves; setting up different scenarios, vocal and character warm ups, etc. That was also before John Leiderman and Marissa Brewer took their rightful places as our new directors/choreographer. This club, from the moment I joined in 8th grade, changed my life for good. Because of them, I started community theater outside of Catty, gained so much confidence in me as an actress and singer, began taking voice lessons more often, and attended masterclasses with the best of the best in the acting/music industry.

What is Interact Club and what are your roles and responsibilities in it?
As secretary of the Interact Club, I helped organize new ideas for fundraisers and contributed any way I could to give back to the community/school, which I did on my own. To give you an idea of what events I was involved in…I was involved with the Haunted Pool House at the Catty Park; costumed character, Fest O’ Fall in North Catty; helped set up equipment + painted kids’ faces, Christmas Tree Lighting at Catty Park, Honoring Veterans Dinner at Mission BBQ + making up baskets to hand out, and Christmas Day Dinner Boxes given out to homebound elderly from Pies On Pizza + pizza delivery to local police stations. Those were all through the club.

What have you learned most about yourself in these leadership roles?
I’ve learned that giving back to the community, your group or whoever, even just a little, does not require tons of experience. All you need is a big heart and the willingness to do something good for yourself that you know will reward you in the end. I believe that giving back to other people can give you that feeling of serotonin, more confidence, and ultimately a high self-esteem.

What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished, and how did you do it?
The hardest thing I've ever accomplished was virtual learning during the pandemic and maintaining honor roll while doing it. I didn’t get to see many of my friends during that time, it felt very isolated. I just was in the mindset that I have to do the best that I could with the situation I was in.

Photography by Jeff Levy of Stylography Studios

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​What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are today?
Get rid of the idea that whenever someone asks you what you want to be when you grow up, you don’t have to feel pressured to know. Don't live out someone else's dream, find your own.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In five years, I see myself continuing acting/modeling but abroad. My plans are to hopefully one day appear on the big screen.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
Exercising and cooking my own meals (while dancing to music of course).

Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?
I make a mean brekkie sandwich.

3 Things on your bucket list…
Perform on Broadway (leading role or swing), travel the world, and land myself on the cover of Vogue.

Who do you find inspiring?
My family, boyfriend, mentors and peers, because they are the people that keep me going and give me overwhelming love and support along the way.

What about you inspires others/why do you think you are inspiring?
I feel that because I try to be a leader to others and help them accomplish their own goals, they look to me in that way.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
Yes actually! I don’t think I ever mentioned singing the National Anthem at The Giant Center in Hershey. It was for the PIAA Basketball Championships, and was broadcasted nationwide. I’m also singing it at our local State Police Barracks in a ceremony honoring 102 troopers killed in the line of duty. I also auditioned to sing for the Philadelphia Phillies, and am awaiting the outcome. So very exciting things are happening!

Look for Angelina in issue 66 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!

click here for more information on issue 66

click here to nominate an inspiring teen