ABC to Host 16th Annual ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase

ABC Talent and Casting will present the 2017 ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4 at the New World Stages in New York City. Part of Disney | ABC Television Group's ongoing commitment to create opportunities for undiscovered talent, the showcase features actors performing original one-act scenes to an audience of entertainment professionals. Following the Showcase, actors are awarded a prestigious one-year mentorship from the ABC Casting Department and will have unique access to ABC and ABC Studios executives.

Ayo Davis, Senior Vice President, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment said, "The Talent Showcase provides emerging actors an incredible opportunity to connect with a team of top industry professionals for mentorship and support to further develop their craft and auditioning skills. We are, once again, working with a terrific group of actors who all have the potential to be the next break-out star."

This year's performers include Alexander Hodge (Sydney, Australia), Andreas Damm (Johannesburg, South Africa), Brooks Brantly (Belleville, Illinois), Cory Censoprano (Foster City, California), Courtney Mertz (West Chester, Pennsylvania), Emma Pfaeffle (Los Angeles, California), Juani Feliz (New York, New York), Moises Acevedo (Bronx, New York), Nicole Kang (McLean, Virginia), Nik Walker (Boston, Massachusetts), Mandi Masden (Brooklyn, New York) and Sky Lakota-Lynch (North Wales, Pennsylvania).

The actors will perform scenes written by Nina Rose Carlin (Manhasset, New York), John Lavelle (Brooklyn, New York), Dagney Kerr (Cincinnati, Ohio), Vincent Terrell Durham (Binghamton, New York), Zander Schaus (Las Vegas, Nevada) and Tanisha Caple (Cleveland, Ohio).

This year's scenes are directed by Joseph Ward (Woodside, California), Melissa Crespo (Stamford, Connecticut), Alan Muraoka (Los Angeles, California).

The ABC Discovers: Talent 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 attended by producers, agents, casting directors and entertainment executives. To date, 40 Talent Showcases in Los Angeles and New York have been produced, and ABC Talent and Casting has mentored 552 actors.

Past participants have successfully navigated the entertainment industry to become some of the most notable stars of this generation, 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 Randall Park of "Fresh Off The Boat," among many others.

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

Disney | ABC Television Group's commitment to discovering and nurturing diverse talent is exemplified through many different programs including the Disney/ABC Writing Program, Disney/ABC/DGA Directing 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.