Casting Director Alexis Allen Winter: “We Have Been Vilified For Making Our Process Fit The Current Industry Standard”

EXCLUSIVE: Broadway casting director Benton Whitley announced today the creation of Whitley Theatrical, a New York City-based casting and producing office for theater, film, and television.

EXCLUSIVE: Wind Sun Sky Entertainment (WSS) has promoted two company executives and hired a new development director as part of an expansion of its senior leadership team.

Selome Hailu Lizzo’s looking to add to her posse again. The “About Damn Time” singer has opened a casting call for new Big Grrrls, her name for the plus-sized performers who back her up during live performances. In Season 1, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video in March 2022, Lizzo led a group of women through a boot camp in order to select 10 backup dancers for her currently ongoing Special World Tour. The series went on to pick up three Emmys for outstanding competition program, reality directing and reality editing. Though Amazon has not officially greenlit Season 2, a second installation would follow Lizzo as she seeks out contestants who excel in both dancing and singing.

UK streamer ITVX is to look into the life of fake CIA agent and bigamist William Allen Jordan in a three-part doc series.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

“How are our children still dying and why are we failing them?” exclaimed a survivor of a past mass shooting today live during Fox News’ coverage of the slaughter at a Nashville school today. “Gun violence is the number one killer of children and teens, it has overtaken cars,” she added.

Parting ways. After being together for more than 10 years, many fans are asking: why did Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth divorce? 

Parting ways. After being together for more than 10 years, many fans are asking: why did Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth divorce? 

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Pictured: Casting directors Katja Zarolinski and Geoff Josselson of JZ Casting. This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page. Casting director Geoff Josselson just checked off a major bucket list item. When he was asked what show he dreamed of casting, he would say “Into the Woods.” And just last year, working with Telsey Casting, Josselson was part of the team that assembled the heralded Broadway revival starring Sara Bareilles, Brian D’Arcy James and Joshua Henry. Josselson is on a bit of a Stephen Sondheim spree — with Telsey he also helped cast the new production of “Sweeney Todd,” starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. And he and his partner at JZ Casting, Katja Zarolinski, just collaborated for the first time with the Pasadena Playhouse to cast “A Little Night Music,” playing at the theater April 25-May 1. 

Alexis Sanchez has opened up on his decision to join Manchester United in 2018, picking the reds ahead of Manchester City, saying a phone call from Jose Mourinho and promise of the number seven shirt turned his head towards Old Trafford.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Italian director Susanna Nicchiarelli, whose trilogy of female biopics, “Nico, 1988,” “Miss Marx,” and “Chiara” all launched from the Venice Film Festival, is set to direct the TV series “Fireworks” depicting the struggle of Italy’s partisans against Nazis and Fascists through the point of view of a twelve-year-old girl named Marta. Shooting is set to start on May 8 in the Piedmontese Alps on “Fireworks,” which is being produced by Domenico Procacci’s Fandango and Rome shingle Matrioska. Fandango, who is the show’s lead producer, is in advanced talks with Italian state broadcaster RAI to come on board. Fandango is also talking up the six-episode limited series at the Series Mania confab in Lille, France, where they are seeking prospective international partners.

Victoria Beckham's Instagram Stories have recently included mother-daughter snaps with Harper and her usual killer fashion looks, but on Tuesday evening the designer surprised us with a personal request.The mother-of-four shared a photograph of her beloved husband David snuggled up to one of their pet dogs and she asked fans to "send help". Victoria penned: "Send help!! My dog's bush is out of control!!! West London recommendations please!! @davidbeckham @romeobeckham." The Beckhams asked for help from fans The Beckhams have resided in the West London area of Holland Park for many years, so it seems surprising that they do not have a regular dog groomer, but we can only imagine that her loyal fans were forthcoming with suggestions.

Stars Hollow’s greatest mystery solved? Gilmore Girls costume supervisor Valerie Campbell claimed to share new insight into the father of Rory Gilmore’s baby after Alexis Bledel’s character’s pregnancy was revealed as a bombshell cliffhanger in the finale of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

If you live in the United Kingdom, you should make it a priority to see Raine Allen-Miller‘s feature debut, “Rye Lane,” in theaters. And if you’re in the United States, you should make sure to catch it when it drops on Hulu on March 31.

Def Leppard, is addressing a recent frightening incident in which he was attacked outside a hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Allen was assaulted last Monday while smoking a cigarette outside the Four Seasons Hotel and was knocked down, where he subsequently struck his head on the ground.On Sunday, Allen released a statement to sharing a message of gratitude for fans who have reached out to share their love and well wishes.«Thank you everyone for your overwhelming support. Your love and prayers are truly helping,» Allen shared. «My wife Lauren [Monroe] was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident.

Gabby Windey looks to be moving on from those Vinny Guadagnino dating rumors – with Dancing With The Stars pro dancer Alan Bersten.

Def Leppard’s drummer Rick Allen has been attacked by a 19-year-old spring breaker in Florida.

Katie Price is officially back together with her ex-fiancé Carl Woods as the pair were spotted arm-in-arm in London after the glamour model returned from her family trip to Thailand.The 44 year old TV personality was in Thailand for three weeks, on an extended holiday with her two youngest children, Jett, 9, and Bunny, 8, who she shares with ex-husband, Kieran Hayler. Carl, 34, even joined them on the trip, with Katie posting plenty of snaps to social media, but he flew home before his on-off partner and her children did.The pair clearly wasted no time in reuniting though, as they headed to a nail bar where Katie got a manicure as Carl waited for her.

Mia Farrow joked this week that she "forgave" Michael Caine for introducing her to ex Woody Allen while wishing the "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" actor a happy 90th birthday.  "Happy 90th Birthday to Michael Caine, such a funny and wise friend over many years," the "Rosemary’s Baby" actress, 78, wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.  She added that when she was married to Frank Sinatra, the crooner’s daughter Nancy dated Caine.   "If they had married he would have been my son in law! He once played my husband.

Addie Morfoot Contributor In 2015, Danish filmmaker Lin Alluna invited Aaju Peter out for a cup of coffee. Alluna didn’t know Peter but was “immediately captivated” by the Greenlandic Inuit lawyer and activist. “I was honored that she took time to meet with me, and those first hours I spent with Aaju were life-changing,” says Alluna. “She revealed hidden truths about myself and the history of my country that I knew I had to find a way to share.” So, in 2017, Alluna began filming Peter as she fought to defend the human rights of Indigenous peoples of the Arctic and also bring her colonizers in both Canada and Denmark to justice. The result is “Twice Colonized,” a documentary about Peter’s fight for justice, her efforts to establish an Indigenous forum at the European Union and mend her own personal wounds.