In Person: FILM, TV and STREAMING Casting Directors Showcase

Thursday, October 19, 2023, 7pm ET / 4pm PT

Don't miss this in person showcase with THREE top Casting Directors who cast for Film, TV and/or the Streaming Networks.

This event will start with a informative Q & A, then scenes with a reader ON CAMERA for feedback.

You have the option to bring in your own 2-3 page Film/TV scene, or select one from our General Sides database (link located in your Actors Connection account upon registration).

Scheduled guests are:

- Judy Henderson, Judy Henderson Casting

- Nathan Francis, Avy Kaufman Casting - FIRST TIME GUEST!

- Leah Shapiro, Freelance Film/TV Casting Associate (offices include Shayna Markowitz Casting, Ellen Lewis Casting, Laura Rosenthal Casting, and Estrin/Bergstein Casting)

*Please note that Guests are subject to change!

This showcase is for adults and teens (13+).

Please note that this in person showcase will be at:

Pearl Studios NYC

You will be emailed your assigned studio the morning of your event.

Pearl Studios has two addresses:

500 8th Avenue, 3rd and 4th floors
and across the street
519 8th Avenue, 12th floor
(between 35th and 36th)

All studios labeled with numbers are at 500 8th Avenue, 3rd and 4th floors.
All studios labeled with letters are at 519 8th Avenue, 12th floor.

What to Prepare:

For this showcase, please bring in your own scene of choice (no more than 2 minutes in length) that you feel best showcases your strengths as an actor. If you do not have your own scene, you can select a scene from the General Sides database (link located in your Actors Connection account upon registration). IN ADDITION: Please bring TWO HARD COPIES of your scene - one highlighted FOR THE READER

Please email jess@actorsconnection.com your scene choice AS AN ATTACHMENT (file should be labeled YourName_CHARACTER) by 5pm (EST) the DAY BEFORE the event.

Please follow the procedures listed below:

• Please update your headshot and fill out the MY INFO section of your AC account upon registration.

• Arrive at least 10 MINUTES before your event is slated to start. Your host will give important information about the event at this time.

**Actors Connection classes and programming are for ADULTS (18+). With permission, some teens (14+) are allowed to take adult programming. To inquire about getting permission, please send an email to: info@actorsconnection.com**

**No recording of any kind is permitted by participants during class.**

**Please keep in mind that all programs at Actors Connection are for educational and professional development purposes. Participating in any class or event is not a promise of employment.**

Judy Henderson

Not only is Judy one of NYC's foremost casting directors, she is a legend in the industry and a truly gifted teacher! With numerous years of casting film, Judy brings a detailed and creative approach to the actor's process and invaluable insight about the industry. She was voted as one of the top 20 CD's in the U.S., is an Emmy- and five-time Artios Award-winner and has called in, auditioned, and booked many actors met at Actors Connection!

Current projects include casting the feature film titled A BLAZE IN THE BROOKLYN SKY starring Sarah Jones and the play CAN'T RUN, CAN'T DANCE for NJ Rep directed by Lisa James and written by Gregg Henry.

Recent and past credits include: 

Film: Entangled, MAD?, Mapplethorpe, Untitled film for Paramount Pictures, GWB, Coming Up Roses, Roadie, Unicorns, Perestroika, Lifelines, Day Zero, The Trouble With Cali, 12 and Holding, L.I.E.(6 Independent Spirit Award Nominations, Winner of Best Debut Performance Award), Blue Moon, Friends And Family, I'll Take You There, subUrbia, The Deli, The Size of Watermelons, Pompatus of Love, Before Sunrise, Naked In New York.

TV credits include: Homeland, Babylon Fields Pilot (CBS), Sins of the City (USA), Fox TV's Love And Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story, PBS: American Playhouse's "Land of Little Rain".

Broadway: Barefoot In The Park, Getting Married, On Borrowed Time, Search and Destroy, Salome, Anna Karenina (4 Tony Nominations).

Off-Broadway: The Starry Messenger, Lie of The Mind, The Kid, Mouth To Mouth, Groundswell, Things We Want, Two Thousand Years, Rafta Rafta, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Abigail's Party, Hurlyburly, Sin, Aunt Dan & Lemon, Roar, Trust, Smelling A Rat, What The Butler Saw, East is East, Guantanamo, Gross Indecency, This Is Our Youth, My Night With Reg, Curtains, Ecstasy, First Night, Amphigorey (Drama Desk Nomination), Ruthless, Raft of the Medusa, Other People's Money, Forever Plaid (Outer Critics Circle Nomination, Drama Desk Nomination).

New York Theatres: The New Group, The Play Company

Awards for productions worked: Obie for Ecstasy and Curtains, The Lucille Lortel Best Off-Broadway Play for Gross Indecency, Three Outer Critics Circle Awards for Other People's Money, The Outer Critics Circle Award for Ruthless, The Drama Desk Award for Ruthless, a MAC Award for Best Cast Album for Forever Plaid, The Drama Desk Award to The York Theatre Company for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre. Ms. Henderson has been honored by The Ross Reports as one of the top 20 US Film Casting Directors and has received five Artios Awards from a total of twelve nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Off-Broadway Theater Casting, Independent Film Feature Casting, and Television Series Drama Casting. She has cast innumerable national on-camera and voice-over television commercials. She is a member of the Casting Society of America. 

Follow this link to view Judy's credits on IMDb

Leah Shapiro

Leah Shapiro is a NY-based freelance Casting Associate for TV and Film.  She’s been lucky enough to work for Shayna Markowitz Casting, Ellen Lewis Casting, Laura Rosenthal Casting, Estrin/Bergstein Casting, and Betsy Fippinger Casting. 

She most recently finished working under Ellen Lewis on Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut feature film ELEANOR THE GREAT. 

Other recent FILM/TV Associate/Assistant credits include: MAESTRO (NETFLIX/AMBLIN), THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE (HULU), INVENTING ANNA (NETFLIX), DASH & LILY (NETFLIX),  A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN (SONY),  GOODNIGHT MOMMY (AMAZON), LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND (PLAN B/MGM) 

While now working primarily in TV/Film, Leah got her start in casting for theater with an internship at Telsey + Company and subsequently working with Stephanie Klapper Casting for almost two years.  She loves being able to lift up NY theater actors in TV/Film. 

Nathan Francis

Nathan Francis is an NYC-based casting professional. He has had the opportunity to work with casting directors on TV and Film projects as well as Broadway, off-Broadway, touring, and regional theatre productions. He worked with Tara Rubin Casting and McCorkle Casting before arriving at his current position at Avy Kaufman Casting. He holds a BA in Theatre Studies from the University of Connecticut.

Notable TV/Film credits: SPOILER ALERT (Focus), NYAD (Netflix), UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN (FX), FELLOW TRAVELERS (Showtime), AMERICAN RUST S2 (Freevee). Select independent feature credits: ERIC LARUE, KNOX GOES AWAY, MOTHERS’ INSTINCT, THE RIVALS OF AMZIAH KING, RELAY, and MAGAZINE DREAMS.