Chicago Actor's Showcase

Theatre Wit, Jan 2017 – May 2017

As a graduating senior from Illinois State University, I auditioned in front of two casting directors & talent scouts from Chicago in hopes of being cast in ISU's Chicago Actor's Showcase. A few weeks later I was alerted that I was one of fourteen graduating actors that made the cast list.

For Chicago Actor's Showcase I prepared a 90 second monologue, memorized a famous line to interpret/imitate, memorized & prepared for our casts' song, & assisted in other actors' scenes for the show. In the span of about four rehearsals, we blocked, memorized, worked, & ran the full show. On top of these acting requirements, I also assisted in calling ten different talent companies, theatre groups, agencies, modeling companies, etc. to invite them to the event. I then checked back with them later to verify information, confirm rsvps, & welcome them to this event.

On May 15th at Theatre Wit, we had our Showcase, which ran from 5 PM until 9 PM. We performed our show to a full house, & afterward were able to meet & talk with the various agents, scouts, representatives, & everyone else who came to our show.

In addition to my acting in showcase, I was also asked to bring my costume, hair, & makeup designs as well to show. I set up my own booth with photos from shows I've worked on, as well as hand-drawn renderings of costumes for shows. This not only allowed me to meet others & market myself as an actor, but also a costume, hair & makeup designer. Being involved in the Showcase was the biggest honor I could've received as an actor at Illinois State University. I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity, & to have had such amazing peers to work & play with. This was the final show & performance to mark the end of my career as an undergraduate at ISU.

[ Headshots courtesy of Peter James Zielinski. ]