Gomez needs help with performance dreams

Twenty-five-year-old Ammunikée Gomez is a talented young man who is passionate about acting. Over the past ten years he has performed with Operation Triple Threat in shows like Fame Jr, The Wiz, Into The Woods, Once on This Island, The Little Mermaid and Matilda.

Gomez was born on the island of St. Vincent and has been a Barbadian resident since 2004. The son of a single mother with a passion for performing joined Operation Triple Threat in order to keep his dreams alive of becoming a professional actor.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Operation Triple Threat (OTT), but eventually, I watched my friends graduate from the programme and go off to study at the tertiary level, but I could not go with them due to my financial constraints. However, I knew this was just another challenge that I needed to overcome, so I did a few part-time jobs as well to save towards this goal to travel towards NYC [New York City].

“I did not know when it was going to happen, but I believed that one day I would get the opportunity to go overseas and audition for a school so that I could continue my journey towards becoming a professional actor. In the meantime, I completed the Operation Triple Threat program and gave it my all in every class, rehearsal, and production.

“I even took extra classes to improve my academic grades with their support. Eventually, I also volunteered at OTT and then became an assistant acting tutor to the 7-11-year-old group, while still holding a full-time job with a local restaurant,” he said.His hard work and dedication at OTT led to Janelle Headley, Director of Operation Triple Threat, offering to pay most of his expenses to audition for tertiary level acting schools and he made his way to New York City Summer of 2019.

There he auditioned for The American Academy of Dramatic Arts which is one of the most prestigious acting schools in the United States of America and he was awarded a scholarship. But just as he celebrated his achievement, things started to unravel at home with the water supply at his residence being disconnected which resulted in his family having to catch water from the public standpipe.

“My mom and I were in the worst financial situation of our lives as our water supply was cut off forcing us to have to fill up buckets daily from the neighbourhood standpipe and carry the water back to our home. We were also served an eviction notice propelling us to move in temporarily by a friend.

“You see, my mom gave me her entire month’s salary to contribute to some of the expenses of my audition trip and it set us back on keeping up with our bills at the time. I will forever be grateful for her unwavering support, love, and sacrifice and I really want to make sure that she sees the return of her investment she has made in me, especially after her big leap of faith last summer,” he said.

Gomez is determined now more than ever to make his dream come true despite his dire financial circumstances and is seeking to raise $US35, 407.00 in order to pay for his two-year conservatory programme at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

“I have learned what it means to work hard despite the challenges I have had to endure. I know what it means to be grateful for the little things whilst dreaming and hoping for something more.

“I have been encouraged by my mom and Operation Triple Threat to never give up and to trust with hard work and perseverance, doors will open for me to live the dream I have been dreaming. I am focused, resilient, passionate, and invigorated by being accepted into The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

“I believe that with this opportunity to develop my talents to their full potential, the universe will open doors for me, and that I will eventually be in a better position to take care of myself, my mom as well as give back to the performing arts community in Barbados. My dream is to become one of the best actors worldwide, a director, and to create a scholarship programme to fund and support kids in pursuit of their artistic career who may not have the resources to do so,” he said.

Persons who are desirous of assisting Ammunikée Gomez to pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor can donate to The Bank of Nova Scotia (Barbados), the Account / Business Name is Operation Triple Threat, Type: Savings, Branch: Warrens, St. Michael, Branch Number: 36285, Account Number: 706262. For Wire Transfer they can send the funds to The Bank of Nova Scotia (Barbados), Address: Warrens, St. Michael Barbados, SCOTIA BANK BARBADOS SWIFT CODE: NOSCBBBB Account Number: 36285-002-0000706262, Type: Savings, Account / Business Name: Operation Triple Threat, Business Address: Lot 218, 1st. Ave. Bagatelle Terrace, St. James.

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