Bernard Telsey has worked in the theatre for over 30 years. He is head of Telsey + Company casting, a premier theatre and film casting company in New York. He is also co-founding artistic director of the Off-Broadway MCC Theatre, is New York vice president of the Casting Society of America and was recently appointed to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors.
His many Broadway casting credits include Wicked , Rent, Newsies, Kinky Boots, Motown, Rock of Ages, The Normal Heart , All The Way, A Streetcar Named Desire, Hairspray, Legally Blonde, In the Heights, Porgy and Bess, Equus, Memphis, Bring It On, South Pacific, Next to Normal, 9 to 5, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, Catch Me If You Can, The Addams Family, the NBC musical series "Smash" and the forthcoming Disney film adaptation of "Into the Woods."
NBC ANNOUNCES CASTING CALL FOR TRACY TURNBLAD IN HOLIDAY PRODUCTION OF ‘HAIRSPRAY LIVE!’
Producers Looking for Young Woman With Extraordinary Voice to Bring Iconic Role to Life for TV Event
NEW YORK – April 11, 2016 – NBC is having an open casting call for the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the network’s upcoming holiday special “Hairspray Live!,” set for Wednesday, Dec. 7.
The casting call is set for Sunday, April 24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Telsey + Co., 311 W. 43rdSt., 10thFloor in Midtown Manhattan. Sign-in begins at 9 a.m.
Casting directors will be looking for a female, 18 or older to play high school age. She must be heavyset, be outgoing, unstoppable, good-hearted with a vibrant, loveable, high-spirited personality who loves to dance. A strong pop belt singer and great mover who can become a teen heroine.
Candidates need to be prepared to sing the song “Good Morning Baltimore” a cappella.
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (“The Wiz Live!,” “The Sound of Music Live!,” “Peter Pan Live!”) serve as executive producers of “Hairspray Live!.” Kenny Leon will direct with Harvey Fierstein providing new written material. Jerry Mitchell will serve as choreographer with song writing by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. “Hairspray Live!” is produced by Universal Television.