ABC Talent and Casting to Present the '2018 ABC Discovers: Los Angeles Talent Showcase'

ABC Talent and Casting will present the 2018 ABC Discovers: Los Angeles Talent Showcase, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3, at the El Portal Theatre for the Performing Arts in North Hollywood, California. Part of Disney|ABC Television's ongoing commitment to create opportunities for undiscovered talent, the showcase features selected participants performing in a one-night showcase for casting directors, talent agents, managers and other industry professionals. In addition, the selected showcase actors are awarded a one-year mentorship with executives from ABC's Casting department. As part of the mentorship, the showcase actors will be offered on-camera workshops specifically for them to further hone their craft and auditioning skills. Talent will also have access to various ABC and ABC Studios executives.

Ayo Davis, senior vice president, Talent and Casting, ABC Entertainment, said, "Once again we are proud to present this year's gifted group of up-and-coming actors to top industry professionals in the creative community. For 17 years, our Talent Showcase has been instrumental in discovering, cultivating and launching the careers of so many wonderful actors, and I'm delighted at the role this initiative has played over time in nurturing new talent."

This year's performers include Aliee Chan (Bridgewater, New Jersey), Belissa Escobedo (Boyle Heights, California), Derrick A. King (Prince Georges County, Maryland), Fiona Rene (Shawnee, Oklahoma), Jack Pearson (Melbourne, Australia), Josh Trant (Decatur, Texas), Karen C. Obilom (Austin, Texas), Kristina Hanna (West Bloomfield, Michigan), Samantha Clay (Saulsville, West Virginia), Sean Nateghi (Atlanta, Georgia), Shalini Bathina (Palo Alto, California), Shane Yoon (Diamond Bar, California), Shannon Dang (Pasadena, California) and Zachary Perez-Rukavina (Eureka, California).

The actors will perform original scenes written by Jeffrey Ashkin (Boca Raton, Florida), Joe Rowley (Wilmington, Ohio), Johnny Cannizzaro (Brooklyn, New York) and Rebecca Norris (Chicago, Illinois).

This year's scenes are directed by creative director Sue Hamilton (Los Angeles, California), Eli Gonda (Los Angeles, California), Mahesh Pailoor (Saco, Maine) and Rebecca Murga (Chicago, Illinois).

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, 42 Talent Showcases in Los Angeles and New York have been produced, and ABC Talent and Casting has mentored 578 actors.

Now in its 17th year, the ABC Discovers: Talent Showcase in Los Angeles and New York continues to serve as a launching pad for discovering new talent, including Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave"), Chadwick Boseman ("Black Panther"), Golden Globe® winner Gina Rodriguez ("Jane The Virgin"), Randall Park ("Fresh Off The Boat") and Jesse Williams ("Grey's Anatomy"), among 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's commitment to discovering and nurturing diverse talent is exemplified through many different programs including the Disney|ABC Writing Program, Disney|ABC Directing Program and National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) TV Writers Program. 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.

To post a comment, you must register and login.