From Craft to Career

Initially an actress (Les Misérables, Aspects of Love), Merri Sugarman found herself in L.A. where she quickly made a name for herself at Liberman/Hirschfeld Casting working on such shows as Seinfeld, HBO’s Band of Brothers, and the feature film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, to name a few. Following that, at Dreamworks Studios, Merri was the Casting Executive in charge of TV Pilots and Series, including Spin City and the critically acclaimed The Job, starring Denis Leary. Time as Director of Casting for Dramas and Movies at ABC Television followed where she oversaw the casting of Alias, NYPD Blue, The Practice and The Music Man, starring Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth, among many others. After her years in LA, Merri moved back to New York City to coach one on one with actors, something she loves and still does as time permits. It was then that Tara Rubin offered her a Senior Casting Director position in which she cast the Broadway and touring companies of Ain’t Too Proud, Jersey Boys, Phantom Of The Opera, Les Misérables, School of Rock, Miss Saigon and A Bronx Tale. Off Broadway work includes the musicals Clueless and Trevor. The Lyric Opera Chicago, The Goodman and The Old Globe are among the many regional theaters Merri works with. She is the very proud casting director of the web series Submissions Only. On a more personal note, Merri has been a Big Sister to Jenny since 2002 via the amazing Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America program, is a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Emerson College in 2021. Merri is a Tony Voter and a member of CSA (Casting Society of America). Tracy Miller Moss holds a degree in Dramatic Literature from New York University and has worked in a variety of capacities in television and film and on a very long list of Broadway shows and National Tours, the first of which was the tour of Les Misérables where she and Merri met and became fast friends. She is delighted to have collaborated on this book and wholeheartedly recommends a life in the arts, whatever form that may take for each individual.

Foreword

Introduction: My path from actor to casting director

Chapter 1: What exactly does a casting director do?

Chapter 2: How to begin

Chapter 3: Where to live and why there?

Chapter 4: Your two different day jobs

Chapter 5: Unions: when it's time to join

Chapter 6: Representation and submissions

Chapter 7: Pictures, resumes, reels and websites

Chapter 8: The self-tape and virtual audition

Chapter 9: The casting director and audition process

Chapter 10: In the audition room

Chapter 11: Auditions: Being prepared

Chapter 12: Curious kids

Chapter 13: Where do I find the work?

Chapter 14: Booking it - or not

Chapter 15: The first day of school

Chapter 16: Networking

Chapter 17: Continuing education

Chapter 18: Alternate career path

Chapter 19: That's a wrap

Chapter 20: Casting in a post-pandemic world

Appendix 1: Useful resources

Appendix 2: Glossary

Index