11 Diverse Actors to Perform in New York for a Select Group of Network and Industry Professionals
The Disney/ABC Television Group’s Casting Project will celebrate its 10th anniversary of their diversity talent showcase in their ongoing efforts to discover and nurture culturally and ethnically diverse talent and actors with disabilities. This year’s New York showcase, taking place Tuesday, September 20 at the New World Stages, will feature 11 talented, yet-to-be discovered actors.
Eleven actors were selected from among more than 7000 candidates who submitted their resumes and the 500 who auditioned for ABC casting executives in New York. The actors will have the opportunity to perform in one-act vignettes directed by Ted Sluberski and Joe Ward to an audience of industry executives and decision makers. Many of the actors selected were submitted through showcase partners AFTRA, SAG, ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION and the ACTORS ALLIANCE for INCLUSION in the ARTS, as well as many other theatre companies and organizations throughout the country. Following the showcase, all 11 actors will continue to be mentored by the New York casting executives in order to help hone their skills and provide guidance throughout the year. The actors will also audition throughout for ABC Entertainment Group’s current series and pilots.
The talented actors to be featured at the showcase, which is not open to the public, are Esteban Benito, Hank Chen, Stephen Drabicki, Negin Farsad, Jermaine Fowler, Kimiko Glenn, Ian Quinlan, Xavier Rodney, Jackie Stewart, Michelle Vanegas and Pearl Veldwijk.
The casting showcase is spearheaded by Keli Lee, executive vice president, Casting; Claudia Ramsumair, vice president, Casting; Marci Phillips, executive director Casting; Peachy Pascual, manager, Casting; John Ort, coodinator and the Los Angeles casting office.
“We are looking forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of our diversity talent showcase and continuing our long standing tradition of tapping into a huge array of undiscovered, immensely talented individuals,” said Ms. Lee. “Our ongoing commitment to scouting and presenting actors of diverse backgrounds to all organizations involved demonstrates how proud we are to be a part of something truly special.”
ABC’s Los Angeles and New York Talent Showcases have been the launching pad for discovering new talent, including Jesse Williams, who currently stars on “Grey’s Anatomy” as Dr. Jackson Avery, “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Liza Lapira, who stars as Robin in the upcoming ABC new midseason series, “Apartment 23”.
The Disney/ABC Television Group’s commitment to discovering and nurturing diverse talent is exemplified through many different programs, including the Casting Project, the Disney/ABC Writing Program, the Disney/ABC/DGA Directing Program, The Production Associates Program and The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) Writing Workshop.