A Starving Actors Guide to NYC

Former struggling actor, Chris Messina, was living in New York, on a theater actor’s budget. Landing big parts in small plays (The New Group’s “Good Thing”) and small parts in big plays (“Salome” on Broadway with Al Pacino), the Long Island native fell in love with the city, despite the high cost of living. These days, he’s based in L.A. wrapping up movies directed by Sam Mendes and Nora Ephron.

“I want to move back to New York, work in the theater and buy an apartment but it’s still expensive,” says Messina.  Here are his local picks for the cash-strapped thespian.