Blog Stage - Acting in Film, TV, Theatre - Backstage

Gorham Cast in 'Covert Affairs,' USA Picks Up Pilot

Christopher Gorham will co-star in the new USA drama pilot Covert Affairs, a spy thriller starring Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, a multilingual CIA trainee who joins the agency still reeling over a mysterious ex-boyfriend who appears to be of particular interest to her bosses. Gorham will play Auggie Anderson, a CIA military intelligence/special-ops agent, blinded years ago on an assignment, who is helping Walker navigate her new job.

Variety confirms that the casting of Gorham has resulted in USA officially picking up the cast-contingent pilot.

-- Daniel Lehman

Stauffer Joins Cast of 'A Streetcar Named Desire'

Barrington Stage Company welcomes Kim Stauffer as Stella in its new production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Casting has been confirmed for the new actress to join the previously announced crew with Marin Mazzie as Blanche and Christopher Innvar as Stanley.

Stauffer replaces formerly announced Sara Surrey in the production. The cast will also feature Kevin Carolan as Mitch, Emily Taplin Boyd (nurse), Miles Hutton Jacoby (Young Collector), John Juback (Steve), Jeffrey Kent (Doctor), Chavez Ravine (Mexican Woman/Blues Singer), Jennifer Regan (Eunice), and Thom Rivera (Pablo).

WGAE President Responds to Emmy Shifts

Michael Winship, president of the WGA, East, issued a statement in response to yesterday's announcement that the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences would pre-record several Emmy Awards presentations in order to devote more TV time to popular shows and stars. Among the eight categories being "timeshifted" are best writing for a drama series and best writing for a miniseries.

Michael C. Hall to Star in Indie 'East Fifth Bliss'

Michael C. Hall (Dexter) will star in the film East Fifth Bliss as a 35-year-old whose static life comically unravels when he embarks on an awkward relationship with the 18-year-old daughter of a former high school classmate.

The indie film is directed by Michael Knowles, and adapted by Knowles and Douglas Light from Light's novel of the same title. Production is scheduled to begin late Oct. in NYC.

-- Daniel Lehman

Billy Crudup Will 'Eat, Pray, Love'

Billy Crudup has joined the cast of Eat, Pray Love, a film adaptation of the memoir, starring Julia Roberts as a woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery around the world to deal with her failing marriage.

Crudup will play her husband Steven, whose hopes to have children are dashed when his wife's "quest to get pregnant leaves her feeling she is not living the life she wants."

The cast also includes Richard Jenkins and Javier Bardem.

-- Daniel Lehman

Colorado SAG Election Results

From the Guild:

Screen Actors Guild Colorado Branch Announces Election Results

Los Angeles  (July 30, 2009) - Screen Actors Guild today announced results for the Colorado Branch elections.
 
*Candidates elected from the Colorado Branch include:

David Hartley-Margolin - National Board Member - three-year term
John Singer - President - three-year term
William A. McLain - Vice President - three-year term
Nancy Flanagan - Recording Secretary/Treasurer - three-year term
Denis Berkfeldt - Council Member at Large - three-year term
Nita Froelich - Council Member at Large - three-year term
Michael R. Kindig - Council Member at Large - three-year term

Those members elected as President, Vice President, Recording Secretary/Treasurer and Council Members at Large will also be elected as Alternate National Directors who may be called upon to serve at National Board Meetings when the National Board member from the Colorado Branch is unavailable to attend.

The candidates named today ran unopposed and were elected without the necessity of ballot vote pursuant to the Branch Rules of Procedure. The newly elected leaders will assume office on September 25, 2009.
 
Elections are being conducted in other SAG Branches and divisions across the country with all ballots tabulated no later than September 24. The results of those elections will be reported when completed.

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New York Auditions at a Glance – July 30-Aug. 7

The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans.

Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below.

California Auditions at a Glance – July 30-Aug. 7

The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans.

Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below.

Regional Auditions at a Glance – July 30-Aug. 7

The following "Auditions at a Glance" calendar conveniently organizes projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans.

Click on any of the following links to see the casting and job notices related to the dates and project titles highlighted below.

Public Theater Announces Additional 'Othello' Casting

Additional casting has been announced for the Public Theater production of Othello. Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Ortiz have already been announced as Iago and Othello, respectively.

The cast will also feature Julian Acosta as Roderigo, Gaius Charles as Duke/Lodovico, Jessica Chastain as Desdemona, Liza Colon-Zayas as Emilia, Saidah Arrika Ekulona as Montano/Bianca, and LeRoy McClain as Cassio.