Drama opportunity has $82k price tag

Katie Rex, a former Kuranui College student, is fundraising to pay for tuition fees after being accepted to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Wairarapa's Katie Rex says she felt like she "won the Lotto" when she got the acceptance letter of a lifetime to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (NYCDA).

"I was really stoked ... I love performing," Ms Rex, 25, said.

But there is a cruel catch to her success, because it will cost $82,000 for just one year.

Ms Rex will be faced with that hefty sum again if she is asked to return for a second year.

The $82,000 covers tuition, housing, books, transport and some general living costs. The flights are not included.

Ms Rex also qualified for a general scholarship from NYCDA worth $1500, but will not receive it until she gets there.

The former Kuranui College student is a legal research assistant at Buddle Findlay in Wellington but said it would take her three years of spending absolutely nothing to pay off her fees. "I'm saving everything I can," Ms Rex said.

After years of helping her family, she said, "It's time I look out for myself now."

Ms Rex has sent requests to businesses asking for help towards auction nights and sausage sizzles, or donations.

She was turned down, with businesses saying there was no benefit in it for them because it did not give back to the community or help an organisation.

She was due to start classes in New York on January 4 but had to postpone her start date until August because she could not make the payment in time.

Ms Rex said she needed to make the payment in order to get her visa and show she can afford to live there.

The application process required two monologues, two essays and two recommendations.

Ms Rex made the 180-person cut from the 4000 submissions.

Although she has never left New Zealand before, she said there was no point in being scared.

Ms Rex hopes to have a New York-themed auction soon to raise funds.