Skyrocketing Prices Force Some Actors to Cut Costs or Quit

Backstage: "The recent economic downturn has left New York actor Alex Hayes without the means to pursue his dream. The cost of paying off his student loans, rent, and bills, and the rising costs of groceries have left him too broke to take acting classes and buy new headshots. 'The ever-rising cost of living has really put a damper on the amount of energy and work I can put into my career,' said Hayes, who doesn't even suffer the added expense of filling his gas tank like most working actors in Los Angeles."