15th Anniversary of ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase Set for Today

ABC Talent and Casting will present the 2016 ABC Discovers: New York Talent Showcase, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, at the New World Stages in New York City. 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: Brianda Agramonte (Lynn, Massachusetts), Sofiya Cheyenne (Bayridge Brooklyn, New York), Brett Diggs (Baltimore, Maryland), Kelcy Griffin (Chicago, Illinois), Chris Jarell (Chester, Pennsylvania), Elizabeth Judd (Dallas, Texas), Matt Pavich (Astoria Queens, New York), Michael Rosen (New York, New York), Sea Shimooka (Orinda, California), Seth Stewart (Kent, Ohio), Anna Suzuki (Shizuoka, Japan), and Perry Young (Berkeley, California).

The actors will perform scenes written by Mike Anderson (Sioux City, Iowa), Jed Feiman & Nehemiah Markos (New York, New York and Washington D.C.), Laura Janeczko (Farmington, Connecticut), David Kimple (Merritt Island, Florida), Ian Quinlan (Queens, New York), Andrew Sanford (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), and Kenny Stevenson (Los Angeles, California).

This year's scenes are directed by Ted Sluberski (Buffalo, New York) and Joseph Ward (Woodside, California).

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.