Disney/ABC Television Group's Casting Project to Host 32nd Showcase Tomorrow

Disney/ABC Television Group's Casting Project will host its 32nd showcase as part of its ongoing effort to discover and nurture culturally and ethnically diverse talent and actors with disabilities. The presentations will take place at the El Portal Theatre Center for Performing Arts in North Hollywood, on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29.

20 actors were selected from among more than 7000 candidates who submitted their resumes and the 670 who auditioned for ABC casting executives in Los Angeles. The actors will showcase their skills in one-act vignettes directed by Sue Hamilton, Jaffar Mahmood and Ellen D. Williams to an audience of industry executives and decision makers. In addition to published materials, this years' showcase will include original scenes submitted through the WGA.

Many of the actors selected were submitted through showcase partners SAG-AFTRA, CAPE, East West Players, Media Access, Nostros, and The Robey Theatre, as well as many other theatre companies and organizations in the Los Angeles area. Following the showcase, all twelve actors will be assigned a network executive from the casting department who will act as their mentor and help nurture their skills and provide guidance throughout the year. The actors will also audition for ABC Entertainment Group's current series and pilots.

The talented actors to be featured at the Los Angeles showcase, which is not open to the public, are Wade Allain-Marcus (Los Angeles, CA), Tiffany Solano DeSena (Los Angeles, CA), Nathan J. Owens (San Francisco, CA), Marcus Choi, (Fullerton, CA), Allison Nichols Toich (Knoxville, TN), Vanessa Jean Simmons (New York, NY), Henri Esteve ( New York, NY), Bechir Sylvain (Miami, FL), Swati Kapila (Jupiter, FL), Elle Young (Chicago, IL), Santana Dempsey (Hannibal, MO), René Rosado (Meriden, CT), Catherine Heana Kim (Cresskill, NJ), Jinhee Joung (Houston, TX), Zack Weinstein (Needham, MA), Paul Elia (Detroit, MI), Chum Ehelepola ( Perth, Australia), Sid Mallya (London, England), Tanner Novlan (Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan) and Perveen Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

"We have selected 20 talented and diverse actors for the ABC Casting Department's Talent Showcase and Mentorship Program in LA. I'm excited about the opportunities that await them," said Keli Lee - Executive Vice President, Casting, ABC Entertainment Group.

The talent showcase is spearheaded by Keli Lee, Executive Vice President, Casting; Ayo Davis, Vice President, Casting, Claudia Lyon, Vice President, Casting, Marcello Bellisario, Executive Director, Casting, Patricia Yuen, Coordinator, Casting, Lynn Esparo, Showcase Coordinator, and the Los Angeles casting office.

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, and "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba.

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.