or


[10/28/13 - 12:34 PM]
Disney/ABC Television Group's Casting Department Hosts Its 32nd Talent Showcase on Providing a Platform to Present Diverse Actors to the Industry
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.

[via press release from ABC]

DISNEY/ABC TELEVISION GROUP'S CASTING DEPARTMENT HOSTS ITS 32nd TALENT SHOWCASE ON PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO PRESENT DIVERSE ACTORS TO THE INDUSTRY

20 Actors to Perform in Los Angeles for a Select Group of Network and Industry Executives

Actors Will Receive A Casting Executive Mentor for One Year In Addition to the Continuing Opportunity to Audition for ABC Entertainment Group's Current Series and Pilots

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), Ren� 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.





  [october 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.

[10/23/25 - 11:28 AM]
"High Potential" Rises to Season High as Show Nears Fall Finale
ABC's popular drama rose to a multiplatform season high in Total Viewers (12.50 million) and Adults 18-49 (2.31 rating) after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms.

[10/23/25 - 11:13 AM]
USA Network Renews "The Rainmaker" for Second Season
Across the first nine premiere episodes of the season, "The Rainmaker" has averaged 1.3 million total viewers.

[10/23/25 - 11:06 AM]
Global Box Office Sensation "Wicked" Arrives Nov. 19 on NBC
The NBC telecast of "Wicked" leads up to the November 21 premiere of "Wicked: For Good," the epic finale to the global cultural phenomenon.

[10/23/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Releases Official Trailer for New Documentary "My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story"
The powerful two-part documentary premieres Thursday, November 13, exclusively on Paramount+.

[10/23/25 - 11:00 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This November
New original series include "I Love LA" and "The Seduction"; as well as documentaries "Alex vs ARod," "One to One: John & Yoko," and "Thoughts & Prayers."

[10/23/25 - 10:31 AM]
Definitive Kevin Durant Doc Series Underway for Netflix from OBB Pictures and Boardroom
Production will continue shooting into the current season and for years beyond as he approaches the final chapters of his career.

[10/23/25 - 10:04 AM]
"Merry Little Mystery" - Starring Jordin Sparks & Keon Alexander Streaming on The Roku Channel November 19th
Natasha Maxwell spends the holidays at her grandparent's house in the tiny town of Roundtop, where she grew up.

[10/23/25 - 10:00 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "One to One: John & Yoko" Debuts November 14
A rare and revelatory inside look at John Lennon and Yoko Ono's first year in New York City in the early 1970s, the film delivers an immersive, cinematic experience that brings to life a chapter of explosive creativity and political activism in their lives.

[10/23/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday" (2025) Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Celebrity bakers Baron Davis, Cheri Oteri, Oliver Hudson, and Janelle James swap the spotlight for spatulas, as they take on three holiday-themed challenges and vie for the coveted Star Baker crown.

[10/23/25 - 09:01 AM]
Country Music Icon Reba McEntire Set to Take the Stage as Host of "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" Special
The annual two-hour telecast will air live Wednesday, December 3 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and simulcast on Peacock.