ABC to Present 2016 ABC Discovers: Los Angeles Talent Showcase, 10/25

By: Oct. 25, 2016
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ABC Talent and Casting will present the 2016 ABC Discovers: Los Angeles Talent Showcase, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, at the El Portal Theatre for the Performing Arts in North Hollywood, California. Part of Disney | ABC Television Group's ongoing commitment to create opportunities for up-and-coming talent, the performance features actors performing original one-act scenes to an audience of entertainment professionals.

Ayo Davis, senior vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment said, "I am thrilled to welcome this year's talented group of actors to our ABC family. For 15 years ABC Talent and Casting has been passionate about finding the very best actors and introducing them to the creative community. The Showcase continues to help launch the careers of so many actors, and I am proud of the work and dedication that goes into this project year after year."

This year's performers include: Peanut Alvarez (Miami, Florida), Shakira Barrera (Englewood, New Jersey), Roland Buck III (Dallas, Texas), Julia Cho (Los Angeles, California), Kelsey Formost (San Diego, California), Alyssa Goss (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Tetona Jackson (Los Angeles, California), Demetrius Joyette (Toronto, Canada), Casey King (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Eddie Liu (Commack, New York), Candace Nicholas-Lippman (Sacramento, California), Y'lan Noel (Stone Mountain, Georgia), Matt Pascua (Buffalo Grove, Illinois), and Nikhil Shukla (Detroit, Michigan).

The actors will perform scenes written by Mike Anderson (Sioux City, Iowa), Kevin DeBacker & Corey Johnson (Santa Maria, California and Glastonbury, Connecticut), Jed Feiman & Nehemiah Markos (New York, New York and Washington D.C.), Joe McQuillen (New Richmond, Wisconsin), Gilli Messer (Los Angeles, California), and Scott Sonne (Delmar, New York).

This year's scenes are directed by Creative Director Sue Hamilton (Los Angeles, California), Eli Gonda (Los Angeles, California), and Mahesh Pailoor (Saco, Maine).

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, 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 attended by producers, agents, casting directors and entertainment executives. Following the showcase, ABC Casting continues to work with the actors throughout the next year by providing mentorship and acting opportunities on television. To date, 38 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.



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