CBS Corporation

Recognized by many as the industry leader in actor showcases designed to highlight diverse talent, the CBS Diversity Institute Talent Showcases are in their sixth year and are attended by senior level CBS Entertainment executives, as well as showrunners and casting directors from series on CBS as well as other networks and high level talent agents.

Results

To date, across all categories, 217 actors have appeared in the CBS Diversity Talent Showcases and as a direct result there have been 1037 auditions and from those auditions actors have landed 288 roles.

Upcoming Talent Showcases

Multicultural Sketch Comedy Showcase
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Los Angeles

Submission period for this Showcase is now closed and participants are currently in rehearsal sessions.

The Submission Period for the 2011 Showcase will be begin July, 2010

Most Recent Showcase

CBS’ most recent talent showcase was the fourth Multicultural Sketch Comedy Showcase held January 21, 2009, at the El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles and filled the house for 2 performances.  11 actors selected from more than 5,000 applicants wrote and performed their own material under the supervision of Director Rick Najera.  The Showcase was produced by CBS Casting VP Fern Orenstein who has been in charge of a variety of Diversity Talent Showcases for CBS since 2002.  Said Peter Golden, Executive Vice President of Talent and Casting, “I know we’ve said this before but this showcase was the best display of new talent to date. We have already demonstrated success in bookings.”  Josie Thomas, Senior Vice President, Diversity added, “These showcases continue to set the standard for the industry and we look forward to the impact these new faces will have on the screen

Other CBS showcases have included Latino Talent Showcases in partnership with NOSOTROS, Native American Talent Showcases in association with American Indians in Film and Television, Asian Pacific American Talent Showcases in association with East West Players, African American Showcases in collaboration with The Robey Theatre Company and a showcase for performers with disabilities in association with the California State Media Access Office. More events are planned with these and other groups.