DAYS: Hometown Kentucky article with IWBASS contestant

Ran across this, saw it involves my home state of Kentucky, and thought I would pass it along...

Link: http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/153341.html

Posted on Sat., Aug. 18, 2006

Lexington resident gets shot at soap opera

By VALARIE HONEYCUTT SPEARS

Lexington Herald-Leader

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http://www.kentucky.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. --Darren Zancan told an audience at Lexington's Triangle Park that lately, his life reads like a recap of a soap opera episode:

Wanting to start a new life, Zancan moved from Chicago to Lexington two months ago and took a marketing job. But he was fired after he developed a kidney ailment and had to miss work. Now the rent is due in three days and he is broke.

But recently, in true soap opera fashion, Zancan's fortunes changed when he won the "I Wanna Be a Soap Star Live" competition.

The event was part of a six-city tour to promote the start of the SOAPnet show's fourth season.

As the winner, Zancan is headed to Los Angeles in October to vie for a walk-on part on NBC's "Days of Our Lives" along with other prizes including professional headshots, makeovers and a second trip to Los Angeles to attend the live season finale of "I Wanna Be A Soap Star." The competition is sponsored by SOAPnet, a channel devoted to soap operas, and Dish TV.

"I've been acting since I was 3. I can't wait to call my parents and say, 'Mom, Dad, I'm going to Hollywood,'" Zancan said.

Erin Weir, director of promotions for SOAPnet, said show officials chose Lexington along with Dallas, San Antonio, Chicago, Atlanta and Tallahassee, Fla., because "a lot of people here like the soaps, and it's a good 'Days of Our Lives' market."

Chanel Minnifield's mother, Diane, heard about the Aug. 12 tryouts as they were getting ready for church. By 2 p.m., Chanel was sitting in Triangle Park in the blazing sun with an estimated 200 other hopefuls.

"I've wanted to act my whole life," said Chanel, 15. But after watching the eight finalists called to the stage who were mostly seven to ten years older than the girl, a realization hit her.

"I think," Chanel said, "that I'm too young."

The contestants who became finalists gave impromptu performances after being given scenarios like, "You just found out you are dying of a rare form of the flesh-eating bacteria" or "Your best friend stole your identity and calls you from a desert island to tell you why."

Judges for the event included Michael Bruno, who is also a judge for the TV show, and Cameron Mathison, who hosts "I Wanna Be A Soap Star" and plays the character Ryan Lavery on ABC's "All My Children."

"I just see genuine raw talent in Lexington," said Bruno, who said that four of the finalists were all talented enough to compete on the television show.

"I think we should come to Lexington for season five and hold tryouts for the TV show," Mathison said.

After Zancan was announced the winner, Bruno urged finalists Brett Higgins and Stephanie Crump to travel to Los Angeles and try out for the reality show.

"I'm definitely considering trying to get the means to go," said Higgins, 22.

Finalist Brandis Bradley said competition officials encouraged her to pursue an acting career, even though she didn't win.

When Bruno jokingly suggested that Bradley, 25, of Lexington, sing as if she were appearing on the show American Idol, the native of Betsy Layne in Floyd County surprised the judges and the audience by belting out Loretta Lynn's Coal Miner's Daughter.

"I did it on impulse, I have no shame," Bradley said afterward, laughing.

"We don't get a lot of opportunities like this," she said. "I think the competition showed that there is so much unrecognized talent in Kentucky."

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Information from: Lexington Herald-Leader, http://www.kentucky.com