Disney-ABC Television Group Casting Project Presents 8th NY Actors Showcase At the Acorn Theatre 9/10

As part of its continuing effort to find and develop culturally and ethnically diverse talent and actors with disabilities, the Disney ABC Television Group's Casting Project will hold its latest showcase featuring 12 promising actors. The showcase, the eighth one to be held in New York, will take place at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues, on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 at 7:30 p.m., ET.

Spearheaded by Executive Vice President of Casting Keli Lee, Vice President of Casting Ayo Davis, Executive Director of Casting Randi Chugerman, Executive Director of Primetime Casting Marci Phillips, Showcase Coordinators John Ort and Peachy Pascual and the New York and Los Angeles casting offices, the showcase is produced in partnership with AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists Guild), SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and Actors' Equity.

"Creating opportunities for untapped talent from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds is a top priority to ABC," Ms. Lee said. "We are very excited to be back in New York to showcase this amazingly talented and diverse group of actors."

Twelve actors were selected from among more than 400 candidates who auditioned in New York. Many of the actors selected were submitted through AFTRA, SAG, Actors' Equity and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, as well as many other theatre companies and organizations which represent New York's diverse theatrical community.

The showcase is not open to the public. Casting directors, talent agents, managers and other industry professionals are invited to view a series of one-act vignettes performed by the actors. The showcase directors are Ted Sluberski and Joe Ward.

The talented actors to be featured are Hina Abdullah of Brooklyn, NY, Lenny Arroyo-Platt of Orlando, FL, Kim Carlson of Chicago, IL, Adam Henry Garcia of Belle Mead, NJ, Arjun Gupta of Palm Harbor, FL, Garrett Lee Hendricks of Harlem, NY, Elena Hurst of Dallas, TX, Michael Levy of Columbia, MD, Jeffrey Omura of Okemos, MI, Nancy Valeria Randall of Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans, LA, Ali Stroker of Ridgewood, NJ, and DeWanda Wise of Baltimore, MD.

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 Fellowship, Disney ABC Creative Development Program, the Disney ABC/DGA Directing Fellowship, ABC Studios Production Associates Program and The Emma Bowen Minority Internship Program.