Release
VIACOMCBS ANNOUNCES THE 15 PERFORMERS STARRING IN THE 2022 VIRTUAL “SHOWCASE”
The 2022 “SHOWCASE” Will Stream Live Feb. 8 and Feb. 9
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Click Here to Download Photos of This Year’s Participants
LOS ANGELES – ViacomCBS today announced the 15 performers starring in the 2022 SHOWCASE, which will take place virtually via a live streaming event on Tuesday, Feb. 8 and Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 1:00 PM, PT, 4:00 PM, PT and 7:00 PM, PT. Click HERE to RSVP for SHOWCASE.
Recognized by many as the industry leader in actor showcases designed to highlight diverse talent, SHOWCASE has developed into a variety comedy show with bold, nuanced performances and original, creative writing. The show is viewed by senior-level executives, showrunners and casting directors from ViacomCBS properties, as well as other networks and streamers, in addition to talent agents and managers from across the entertainment industry.
Formerly a theatrical production with Broadway-worthy live performances, SHOWCASE 2022 has evolved into a highly produced, pre-filmed hour of sketch comedy and comedic music videos. Talent from around the country are selected to participate in a month-long virtual writers’ room before traveling to Los Angeles to take part in a three-week shoot on location. Following the wrap of production, performers attend various workshops and panels, on topics ranging from audition technique to a Q&A with esteemed SHOWCASE alumni. Also, each performer is set-up with executive mentors who remain a resource to them as they navigate their careers beyond the SHOWCASE process.
“These 15 multitalented artists, under the leadership of our exceptional creative team, have put together a laugh-out-loud show that we are delighted and proud to share with the industry and beyond,” said Claudia Lyon, Executive Vice President, Talent and Casting, CBS Entertainment, and Dorey Poder, Vice President, Talent and Casting, CBS Entertainment. “It moves us to think of all the time and creative energy they dedicated to this year’s SHOWCASE, which functions as a platform to amplify their voices and demonstrate what they are capable of when given the access and opportunity. We know their passion and work ethic will lead to bright futures, and we look forward to fostering these professional relationships for years to come.”
For the first time in 17 years, SHOWCASE was filmed entirely on location in Los Angeles instead of performed live on stage, providing the ensemble with valuable on-camera experience. For many, this was their first time on a professional set. For others, it was their first opportunity to be the lead of their own story.
The exposure from this program has helped launch countless careers through an increase in auditions, bookings, meetings and agent/manager signings. Specifically, the most recent 2021 and 2020 SHOWCASES have resulted in numerous bookings for participants on ViacomCBS properties, including: 4400 (The CW/CBS Studios), THE CHI (Showtime), GAMES PEOPLE PLAY (BET), NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, THE NEIGHBORHOOD (CBS), SEAL TEAM (Paramount+), WORK IN PROGRESS (Showtime) and more.
The following are the 15 performers starring in this year’s SHOWCASE.
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Name: Afsheen Misaghi Hometown: Charleston, W.Va. Education: M.F.A., theater acting, University of Florida; B.A., theater, West Virginia University Training: Upright Citizen’s Brigade (New York and Los Angeles), The Peoples Improv Theatre Television: “Normal for Now” (Amazon Prime), FBI: MOST WANTED (CBS) Stage: “Andy Warhol in Iran” (Barrington Stage), “Threads” (Weathervane), “Shruti Gupta Can Totally Deal” (American Stage Co.) Digital: “Super Sketch Tuesday” (PITtv), “Yeah I’m FROM From There” (NYC SOLOCOM), “15 Minutes Late” (Kickback Originals/YouTube) Interesting fact: I watched “The Oprah Winfrey Show” every day from when I was 9 years old until the series finale. |
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Name: Dickie Hearts Hometown: Newport News, Va. Education: B.A., video production and deaf studies, Gallaudet University Training: Acting for the Camera with Vincent D’Onofrio, Upright Citizen Brigade, Improv 1-4: The Harold (Los Angeles and New York), Acting with Jules Dameron Television: “Tales of the City” (Netflix), “High Maintenance” (HBOMax), “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS), “Grace & Frankie” (Netflix) Stage: “Maple & Vine” (New York Deaf Theatre), “Stepchild,” (IRT), “My Onliness” (IRT) Interesting fact: In 2017, Hearts won first place in the national film competition, AT&T Create-A-Thon, taking home the grand prize of $20,000, with the seven-minute horror-comedy short that he wrote, directed and co-starred in: “The Deaf VS The Dead.” This happened before they had two deaf characters on AMC’s “The Walking Dead!” |
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Name: Glo Tavarez Hometown: Kissimmee, Fla. Education: University of Central Florida dropout Training: I trained at Upright Citizens Brigade (New York) for close to 10 years. Television: “High Maintenance” (HBO), “Alternatino” (Comedy Central), “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” (Netflix), “The Iliza Schlesinger Sketch Show” (Netflix), “Search Party” (HBO Max), “Rita” (Pilot for Showtime), “Helpsters” (AppleTV) Film: “Unt. Julio Torres” (A24), “Late Night” (Amazon Studios), “Safe Spaces” (Independent) Interesting fact: Tell me your sign, and I’ll tell you about yourself. |
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Name: Jordan Stafford Hometown: Detroit, Mich. Education: B.S., theater/fine art, Saginaw Valley State University Training: The Second City (Chicago), Improv Olympics (Chicago), The Acting Studio (Chicago) Stage: “The Second City Touring Company” (Chicago), “Teen Cudi Presents: Black Boy Joy” (Comedy Central Stage, LA and The Annoyance Theater, Chicago) Digital: “Code-Switched Web Series” (YouTube), “Improvising Radical Candor” (Second City Works), “Porky Pine” (The Second City, YouTube) “Blue Whales” (Teen Cudi, YouTube), “Peas and Carrots Web Series” (YouTube) “Open Sesame” (YouTube) Interesting fact: I’ve illustrated three children’s books. |
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Name: Lureena Cornwell Hometown: Pawtucket, R.I. Education: Jacqueline M Walsh School of the Performing Arts Training: Providence Improv Guild, iO (Chicago) Television: “Chicago P.D” (NBC) Film: “Unplugging” and “The Miseducation of Bindu” Stage: “Studio Eleven” (iO Chicago) and “Hootie Hoo” (iO House Team) Digital: “Brothers from the Suburbs” (EL-Network) Interesting fact: Soup connoisseur |
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Name: Sahana Srinivasan Hometown: Dallas, Texas Education: B.S., radio/television/film, The University of Texas at Austin Training: Lesly Kahn, Groundlings, Cathryn Sullivan’s Acting for Film (Texas) Credits: Television: “Brainchild” (Netflix), “Insecure” (HBO), “Fear the Walking Dead” (AMC) Interesting fact: In second grade, I did the weather for my school’s morning announcements, and all the sixth graders asked for my autograph. |
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Name: Shuang Hu Hometown: Tianjin, China Education: Hotel management and international business, Griffith University Training: Upright Citizen’s Brigade (Los Angeles) Television: “Ronny Chieng: International Student” (Comedy Central/ABC Australia), “The Family Law” (NBCUniversal/SBS Australia) Stage: “John” (Outhouse Theatre) Digital: “Tales from The Stream” (Comedy Central), “Asian Superstitions” (WongFu Productions) Film: “Beyond The Reef” (The Steve Jaggi Company) Interesting fact: I was born a twin during the one-child policy era in China, and my mum nearly gave me away to her infertile best friend. That’s where my abandonment issues come from. |
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Name: Sibel Damar Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Education: B.F.A., acting, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Training: Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (New York), The Freeman Studio, The People’s Improv Theatre, Magnet Theatre Television: FBI (CBS) recurring co-star Stage: “Characters Welcome” (Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre New York), “Boogie Manja” (The Peoples Improv Theater), “Much Ado About Nothing” (Rude Grooms Theatre), “All’s Well That Ends Well” (Triad Stage), “Les Liasons Dangereuses” (UNCG), “Peter Pan” (UNCG), “Pride and Prejudice” (UNCG), “Iphigenia 2.0” (UNCG) Digital: “F**k Nice Guys” (Brooklyn Women’s Film Festival/YouTube), “A Rose for Wally” (YouTube), “Polterheist” (YouTube), “Westworld Internet Reviews” (YouTube), “Not Sorry” (YouTube), “Killer Across the Street” (YouTube) Interesting fact: My sense of smell is five times stronger than the average human. I can see perfectly underwater (sans goggles). I can survive for weeks in the wilderness with only a knife. Alas, I will never be able to fold a fitted sheet. |
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Name: Steve Han Hometown: Gainesville, Fla. Education: B.A., biological sciences, University of Chicago Training: Second City (Chicago), ImprovOlympic (Chicago) Television: “The Big Leap” (Fox), “Everything’s Trash” (Freeform), “Work In Progress” (Showtime), “Single Drunk Female” (Freeform), “Chicago Med” (NBC) Stage: “We Are Asian. We Do Comedy.” (Steppenwolf), “Public Empathy No. 1” (Second City) Digital: “War On Facebook” (Onion) Interesting fact: One time at Disney World, a kid tried to take a picture with me because he thought I was Russell from the movie “Up” (I was 23 at the time). |
As previously announced, Tess Paras returns as executive produce and director, and Tyler Davis returns as executive producer and associate director. Also, Calvin Seabrooks joins as executive producer and head writer, Eddie Mujica joins as producer, and Lauren Walker and Laurie Magers join as consulting producers.
Alumni of SHOWCASE include Emmy Award winners Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) and Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), Emmy Award nominee Punam Patel (“Special” and “I Love This For You”), Sheila Carrasco (GHOSTS), Diona Reasonover (NCIS), Tien Tran (“How I Met Your Father”), Ego Nwodim (“Saturday Night Live”), Leah Lewis (“Nancy Drew” and “The Half Of It”), Nico Santos (“Superstore” and “Crazy Rich Asians”), Drew Tarver (“The Other Two”) and Nicole Byer (“Nailed It!” and “Grand Crew”) among numerous others.
For more information about ViacomCBS’ SHOWCASE, visit https://www.viacomcbs.com/showcase. Additional details about ViacomCBS’ diversity and inclusion commitments and talent programs can be found at https://www.viacomcbs.com/inclusion.
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Press Contact:
Christine Park |
Photo Contact:
Amanda Beane |
amanda.beane@cbs.com |
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Publicity
Christine Park
christine.park@viacomcbs.com