Disney/ABC to Present Annual Diversity Talent Showcase, 10/9

The Disney/ABC Television Group's Casting Project will present its 11th year of their Diversity Talent Showcase in their ongoing efforts to discover and nurture racially and ethnically diverse talent and actors with disabilities. This year's New York showcase taking place at New World Stages will feature 12 talented, emerging actors on Tuesday, October 9.

Twelve actors were selected from among more than 7,500 candidates who submitted their resumes and the nearly 500 who auditioned for ABC casting executives in New York. The actors will have the opportunity to perform in one-act vignettes directed by Ted Sluberski and Joe Ward to an audience of industry executives and decision makers. Many of the actors selected were submitted through showcase partners SAG-AFTRA, ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION and ALLIANCE FOR INCLUSION IN THE ARTS, as well as many other theatre companies and organizations throughout the country that have an eye for diverse talent. Following the showcase, the 12 actors will work closely with the New York casting executives, who will act as mentors, helping to hone their skills and providing guidance throughout the year. The actors will also audition for ABC Entertainment Group's current series and future series and pilots.

The talented actors to be featured at the showcase, which is not open to the public, are Adam Alexander Hamilton (Detroit, MI), Andrew Law (Lexington, MA), Caitlin McHugh (Pasadena, CA), Kario Pereira-Bailey (Oranjestad, Aruba), Daniella Pineda (Oakland, CA), Johnny Ramey (Fresno,  CA), Davi Santos (New York City, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Ami Sheth (Belleville, NJ), Brandhyze Stanley (Michigan City, IN), Kailie Torres (Greensboro, NC), Michaela Waters (Atlanta, GA) and Shivantha Wijesinha (Colombo, Sri Lanka).

The Talent Showcase is spearheaded by Keli Lee, Executive Vice President, Casting; Marci Phillips, Executive Director; Casting; John Ort, Manager, Casting; Ayo Davis, Vice President, Casting; Austin Sayles, Director, Casting; Jason Najjoum, Showcase Coordinator, and the Los Angeles Casting Office.

"I'm incredibly proud of this year's multi-talented, diverse group of actors and really excited to provide them with a tremendous opportunity to break out in the industry," said Ms. Lee "I'm looking forward to seeing them grow and truly excel in their craft with the amount of positive exposure our annual showcase will grant them."

ABC's Los Angeles and New York Talent Showcases has 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.

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