'I was Born on the Stage'

Robert Halliwell, 21, coaches aspiring young actors enrolled in the Two Planks Theatre Co. Summer Workshop, run by his parents, David and Susan, at Masuk High School. But he's still building an acting resume of his own.

Though he grew up in Monroe, Halliwell moved to L.A. to attend the Hollywood High School of Performing Arts, where he starred in many shows, including the "Elephant Man", "Rent" and "Fame".

Halliwell just graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, where he was an acting major.

"My goal is to eventually win the Academy Award for acting," Halliwell said.

Auditions are key to making the move from stage to screen, according to Halliwell.

"You have to allow auditions to come before everything else," he said. "You live for your art and your art lives for you."

While auditioning in front a panel of judges can be intimidating for many, Halliwell thrives on it as a way to learn from his mistakes and grow.

Acting from the Womb

Robert Halliwell has had a passion for acting for as long as he can remember.

"My mom was performing on stage when she was pregnant with me, so I like to say I was born on the stage," he said with a smile.

"I always loved playing make believe and I'm the type of person who loves to shape-shift," he said. "Acting is creating an eternal mosaic of faces and the beauty of it is, for the actor, it never ends."

Aside from acting, Halliwell writes. He is currently trying to publish "Many Seasons", a book of poetry.

He plans to move to Stamford, where he can continue to act.

Halliwell said he benefited from theater programs like Two Planks growing up, adding his opinion that society needs to do more to promote the arts.

"For kids who are outgoing and innovative, outlets like this are paramount," he said. "It's what is needed to give them the ability to show what they have — to bring it out."