ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase Set for 10/6

ABC Talent and Casting will present the 2015 ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 at the New World Stages in New York City. Part of Disney|ABC Television Group's ongoing commitment to Create opportunity for diverse talent, the live performance will feature actors performing original one-act scenes to an audience of entertainment professionals.

Keli Lee, Executive Vice President, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment said, "For 14 years the Showcase has given diverse artists of various backgrounds a platform to spotlight their abilities. We're thrilled they will get to share their gifts again with an audience of industry professionals and creative visionaries in New York and Los Angeles who have the power to bring their talents to much wider audiences."

This year's talented performers include: Ta'rea Campbell (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Jevon Case Mcferrin (San Francisco, California), Shamikah Christina Martinez (Yorktown, Virginia), Johnathan Fernandez (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania), David Harrell (Brunswick, Georgia), Aurora Leonard (Dumfries, Virginia), Katya Martin (Valencia, Spain), Ruben Ortiz (Allentown, Pennsylvania), Ade Otukoya (Brooklyn, New York), Desireé Rodriguez (Paterson, New Jersey), Akaash Singh (Dallas, Texas), Aubin Wise (Vacaville, California), Gameela Wright (New York, New York), Giullian Yao Gioiello (New York, New York).

The actors will perform scenes written by Natalie Chmiel (Stevens Point, Wisconsin), Jasmine Elist (Los Angeles, California.), Steve Marovitch (Chicago, Illinois), Gilli Messer (Los Angeles, California), Mike Morucci (Ellicott City, Maryland), Kevin Mouren-Laurens (Los Angeles, California.), Rebecca Norris (Chicago, Illinois), Serah Pope (Richfield, Utah).

This year's scenes are directed by Melissa Crespo (Stamford, Connecticut), Shilpa Mankikar, (West Orange, New Jersey), and Victor Maog, (Union City, California).

Now in its 14th year, ABC Discovers: Talent Showcase in Los Angeles and New York continues to serve as a launching pad for discovering new talent, including Academy-Award® winning actress Lupita Nyong'o of "12 Years a Slave," Gina Rodriguez, 2015 Golden Globe Winner for Best Actress in a Comedy, "Jane The Virgin," Chadwick Boseman of "Black Panther" and "42," Randall Park of "Fresh Off the Boat," Cornelius Smith Jr. of "Scandal," Pedro Pascal of "Narcos," Jesse Williams of "Grey's Anatomy," and "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The Showcase is a rigorous audition and rehearsal process in which ABC Casting executives work with the actors to put on a one night live performance, industry only event, where more than 400 producers, agents, casting directors and entertainment executives attend. Following the Showcase, ABC Casting continues to champion and work with the actors throughout the next year by providing mentorship and acting opportunities on television. To date, 36 talent showcases in Los Angeles and New York have been produced, and ABC Casting has mentored nearly 500 actors.

ABC Discovers is a series of landmark initiatives that identify, develop and mentor talent from around the world through programs such as the Talent Showcase, Digital Talent Competition, Global Talent Initiative and Actor Audition Workshop Week.

The Disney|ABC Television Group's commitment to discovering and nurturing diverse talent is exemplified through many different programs, including ABC Discovers: Talent Showcase, Disney|ABC Writing Program, Disney/ABC/DGA Directing Program, The Production Associates Program, and National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) Writing Workshop. Many of the actors selected were submitted through showcase partners SAG-AFTRA, Actor's Equity Association and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, as well as theatre companies and organizations throughout the country.