Casting Director Workshop

Show your talent and network with 6 commercial casting directors in this 90 minute Zoom workshop, hosted by Brooke & Mary. You will present yourself by reading copy in the relaxed and fun environment that Brooke and Mary provide. All of the casting directors in attendance are the people who call actors in for commercial auditions at 5 of the busiest casting offices in New York City. 5 different offices!!!!

If casting directors don't know who you are and what you can do, how will they ever bring you in? After this evening casting directors will know who you are, what you look like and most importantly what you can do on-camera. Brooke and Mary designed this night to offer you the opportunity to expand your knowledge of some of NYC's commercial casting directors as well as be seen, get recognized and GET CALLED IN!

The evening will start with a short interview followed by 2 pieces of commercial copy, provided in advance. Feedback and re-direction is given by the guest casting directors as well as Brooke and Mary. There will also be an opportunity for an open Q&A discussion. You must have a headshots and resumes to attend. You must have experience with commercial copy to attend.

Brooke & Mary say: "Not only is this class beneficial...it's crazy fun! It sells out fast so jump on it."

Date: July 15, 2024 from 6:00 - 7:30pm

Location: Zoom Conferencing

Cost: $125

Your Hosts: Brooke & Mary

Class size limited to 10 students.

Please note this is not a pay to play workshop. Participation in this workshop in no way guarantees work or auditions. This is an opportunity to receive constructive advice on auditioning for commercials.

About Your Instructors

David Morris

Casting Director, Grande/Morris Casting

After 5 years at Telsey + Company, David has recently joined forces with Fay Grande to form Grande/Morris Casting. David casts on camera commercials, voice overs and industrials and is always looking for innovative, creative, new actors. Recent commercials include: Time Warner Cable, TD Ameritrade, Cognizant, Papa John's, Verizon, Ikea, Fanta, Stouffer's. David also cast his first feature film last year "No Retreat" which is currently in production. Most recently, he's cast short films "Brain Off" and "Feral Mix." David is an adjunct professor at Pace University and a proud alum of NYU/Tisch.

Rachel Reiss

Casting Director, Liz Lewis Casting Partners

Rachel is a casting director at Liz Lewis Casting Partners where she casts film, TV, voiceovers, and commercials nationwide. She began her career casting shows for numerous networks including the Bravo, Lifetime, Oxygen, A&E, Spike, and Discovery. Most notably, she cast 11 seasons of Chopped on the Food Network. Since joining Liz Lewis, she casts voiceovers for clients such as AT&T, Phillips Grooming, Zicam, and Bacardi, and over 100 commercials including Publix, Trojan, Time Warner Cable, Coke, and Kindle. Most recently, she cast the comedy feature film Wifed Out starring Eve and Marc Maron and is currently working on three other films. Rachel was a panelist for Casting Commercials for the New York Women in Film and TV. She is a graduate of Boston University.

Fay Shumsey Grande

Casting Director, Grande/Morris Casting

Fay Shumsey is the former in-house casting director for award-winning production company Hungry Man. Since starting her career at Hungry Man she has worked on many notable Super Bowl commercials and award-winning campaigns. Some of her most recent clients include American Express, Bud Light, Microsoft, NY Lotto, Kraft, and Snickers. Grande/Morris Casting specializes in commercial, digital, promotional, short film, and television casting. Fay Shumsey prides herself on constantly calling in fresh faces and new talent. She also hopes to one day be the star of her own hit reality TV show on Bravo!

Rebecca Yarsin

Casting Director, House Casting

Rebecca casts National and Regional Commercials and Industrials as well as National and Regional Voice-Overs. Recent commercials include: Apple, Time Warner, Cablevision, AT&T, Bank of America, TD Bank, Chase, Burlington, Verizon, Lay's, Old Navy, Gillette, Macy's, Microsoft, Hertz, Ketel One, Bacardi, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Hershey's, Dove, Charles Schwab, Dr Scholls, Kit Kat, GNC, Reese's, Acuvue, Dos Equis, Marie Callender and many others. She also works on many web series, shorts and plays as well as directing her own projects. She is always looking for new talent! She was formerly in theatrical casting and worked as a Producer on Broadway and Off-Broadway for many years.

Mary Egan Callahan (Host)

Casting Director, House Casting

Brooke Thomas (Host)

Casting Director, Brooke Thomas Casting

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this right for me? Who should take classes and workshops in the Casting Loop?

From real people to real actors, Casting Loop instructional offerings are for people who are looking to book television commercials and TV programming. Our classes, workshops and events fill up with everyone from curious, unsigned, non-union aspirers looking to get into the business to established actors looking to improve and hone their performance techniques for commercial and TV auditions. While actors, comedians, and improv artists consistently sign up to our classes, we have many, many people from all walks of life, like doctors, lawyers, assistants, housewives, athletes, business professionals, art dealers, etc., etc., etc.

Who has taken these type classes in the past?

Thousand of our students have taken classes and we see them appearing on ad spots, television shows and film everyday. Some who went on to train for commercials (usually before they got popular) via our class and then rose up the entertainment ladder include: Ben Schwartz (House of Lies), Nick Kroll (The Kroll Show, The League), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, Safety Not Required), Bayne Gibby and Jason Mantzoukas (Enlightened), Ed Helms (Daily Show, The Office,The Hangover), Adam Pally (Happy Endings), Jessica St. Clair (Best Friends Forever, Bridesmaids), Rob Huebel (Human Giant, Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital) Michael Nathanson (Side Effects), Kate McKinnon (SNL), Pete Holmes (voice of the E-Trade baby and soon to be host of The Midnight Show with Pete Holmes). ...This is a very small partial list! ...And maybe you’ve seen people in ads that you didn’t know were past students such as comedian Coleman Green (Cablevision pink pixel), actress/songstress Nadia Quinn (Yoplait yogurt), Sara Megan Thomas (wrote and starred in the movie Backwards), Jim Connelly (Amtrak and many other ads). This list goes on and on...

What is your refund policy?

Plans change, we get it. If you book a job or something else comes up we'll try to resell your seat if you notify us 7 or more days prior to the start of the class or workshop. (Go to "Contact Us" to let us know.) But if it's a 7 day or less notice and we can't fill your seat, we won't be able to refund.

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