By Lauren Whelan’14, Arts and Entertainment Section Editor 

The Newark Academy community was laughing hysterically during the IB/Advanced Acting presentation this fall, as Andrei Buna’15 flung around multiple pairs of glasses while impersonating Mr. Austin. Needless to say, the morning meeting presentation impressed everyone. Buna is no newcomer to the Newark Academy stage, after earning a role in the 2012 fall drama “Fortinbras.”

His passion for acting began at a young age. “I began acting because my dream as a kid was to be on Saturday Night Live,” he stated, “I always loved entertaining people and acting was the best way for me to do so.” Specifically, he has always been interested in sketch comedy, which speaks to his strong performance in the morning meeting presentation earlier this fall. When asked about it, Andrei said, “It was an amazing chance to show everyone something I really love doing.”

While acting is about taking on a role and communicating a specific character, Buna pointed out that this also has an interesting effect on the actor. “I like the fact that you can be anyone or do anything when you act. It lets me learn more about myself.” In fact, it was this facet of acting that was most attractive to him.

However Buna’s Newark Academy acting career has taken him beyond the stage, as he has applied his passion to his mock trial career as well. “It really involves a lot of acting,” he points out, and draws attention to the fact that acting can be applied in multiple forums aside from the stage. In his first year on Mock Trial, he was the lead plaintiff witness, Carmen Capella. He had to embody the role of a pet owner whose beloved dog passed away due to a contaminated pet shampoo.  This year, Buna will be an expert witness, testifying for an adult charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Buna’s acting endeavors outside of the traditional realm of acting, such as mock trial, can serve as a lesson to all artists. A passion can be pursued through many angles, there is no limit to the value of such an art. To the actors of the Newark Academy community, Buna offers a valuable piece of advice: “Just go out of your comfort zone. Take risks. Don’t play it safe because you will never become a better actor that way.” Whether it be in morning meeting, in the black box, on stage, or in the mock trial court room, be sure to keep an eye out for Andrei Buna’s acting in the near future.