CREATIVE TEAM
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Tess Paras
Director, Executive Producer
Tess Paras is an actress, writer and director based in Los Angeles. She directed and executive produced the 2021 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE and is an alumni performer and writer of the program. As an actress, Paras was a series regular on the Daytime Emmy-nominated Family Series “Just Add Magic: Mystery City” (Amazon). She recurred on “Just Add Magic” (Amazon), “Take My Wife” (Starz) and “Girl Meets World” (Disney), and is most recognized for her recurring role on the award-winning musical comedy “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW) as Jayma Chan, part of television’s first Filipino-American family. Other recent film and television credits include “Good on Paper” (Netflix), “The Blackout” (Amazon), “Puppy Place” (AppleTV) and “Lucifer” (Netflix). Paras wrote and directed “The Patients,” a short film recognized by the Asian American Psychological Association for its advocacy of mental health awareness. She also wrote and produced multiple viral political comedy sketches for F-Comedy, the digital studio of the Fusion Cable Network. Paras is repped by Gersh (Talent & Literary) and Haven Entertainment.
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Tyler Davis
Associate Director, Executive Producer
Tyler Davis is an actor, musician and director in Los Angeles by way of Chicago. He co-wrote and performed in the 2020 SHOWCASE, and was an editor, writer and producer in 2021. In Chicago, Davis starred in two mainstage sketch revues with The Second City Chicago and was a co-star and production consultant on the Showtime series “Work in Progress.” Currently, he directs commercials with TESSA films and is a member of the ViacomCBS ViewFinder Emerging Directors Program with Comedy Central. Davis is repped by DPN Talent in Los Angeles, Grossman & Jack Talent in Chicago, and managed by El Centro Management.
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Calvin Seabrooks
Head Writer, Executive Producer
Calvin Seabrooks is a Los Angeles-based actor and writer, originally from San Diego. Currently, Seabrooks can be seen recurring on “4400” (The CW). His other credits include “Games People Play” (BET), “Westworld” (HBO), “Dollface” (Hulu), “SwipeNight: Killer Weekend” (Tinder) and last year’s ViacomCBS SHOWCASE 2021. Previously, he was the creative lead at Comedy Central Digital. Seabrooks is repped by APA and SK Management.
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Eddie Mujica
Producer
Eddie Mujica is a Cuban-American writer, actor and Emmy-winning producer from Hialeah, Fla. An alumnus of The Second City in Chicago, Mujica wrote and performed in two critically acclaimed revues after traveling with The Second City Touring Company. His credits include the 2016 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE, Broadway Video’s “Más Mejor” and the 2019 HBO ACCESS Fellowship. His short film, “Dreamer,” was an Imagen Award finalist and named one of Vulture’s Best Comedy Videos of 2018 and “Uno Por Uno: The Cuban Missile Crisis” won Best Web Series at HBO’s NYLFF as well as Cine Sony’s “New Voices.” One of his pilots was selected to the 2020 NALIP Latino Media Market and is currently in development. Recently, he staffed on the NBC comedy “Connecting” and wrote/co-starred on the upcoming Peacock series “True Story” with Ed Helms and Randall Park. Mujica is repped by APA and Artists First.
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Lauren Walker
Consulting Producer
Lauren Walker is a Los Angeles-based comedian and writer from Chicago. She has studied at the University of Illinois, The Second City, iO Chicago and the Annoyance Theater. As a Second City National Touring Company member, Walker traveled the country performing improv, sketch and standup comedy. Recently, she wrote for season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the upcoming Discovery+ show “Book of Queer.” Walker also performed in the 2020 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE. Walker is repped by Haven Entertainment and Paonessa Talent Agency.
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Laurie Magers
Consulting Producer
Lauren Walker is a Los Angeles-based comedian and writer from Chicago. She has studied at the University of Illinois, The Second City, iO Chicago and the Annoyance Theater. As a Second City National Touring Company member, Walker traveled the country performing improv, sketch and standup comedy. Recently, she wrote for season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the upcoming Discovery+ show “Book of Queer.” Walker also performed in the 2020 ViacomCBS SHOWCASE. Walker is repped by Haven Entertainment and Paonessa Talent Agency.
PERFORMERS
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Afsheen Misaghi
Actor
Name: Afsheen Misaghi
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Education: M.F.A., Theatre-Acting, University of Florida; B.A., Theatre, West Virginia University
Training: Upright Citizen's Brigade (New York & Los Angeles), The Peoples Improv Theatre
Credits:
- 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 nine years old until the series finale.
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Allison Reese
Actor
Name: Allison Reese
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Training: The Second City (Chicago), The Annoyance Theatre, iO (Chicago and West), Upright Citizen’s Brigade (LA)
Credits:
- Television: “Utopia” (Amazon Prime)
- Stage: The Second City Touring Company (The Second City), NBC Breakout Festival (The Second City), “Characters Welcome” (Squirrel Theatre), “Studio Eleven" (iO), “Whirled News Tonight” (iO), “Your F*cked Up Relationship” (iO), “You Listen to White People Music?” (The Annoyance), “Matt Damon Improv” (The Annoyance), “NBC Bob Curry Fellowship” (The Second City), “Baby Wine” (The Annoyance), “After Hours” (The Second City), “Trigger Happy” (The Annoyance)
- Digital: “In-Diana” (YouTube), “Centered” (YouTube), “Call Me Ripley” (OTV), Kamala Harris Impersonator (TikTok/Twitter)
Interesting Fact: For my sixteenth birthday I took my friends to a Phoenix Mercury game and was somehow still closeted.
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Anna Garcia
Actor
Name: Anna Garcia
Hometown: Beverly Hills, MI
Education: B.A., film, University of Michigan
Training: Upright Citizens Brigade (Los Angeles)
Credits:
- Television: "Hacks" (HBO Max), "Superstore" (NBC), "The Goldbergs" (ABC), "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (FX)
- Stage: “Mess Hall” (Upright Citizens Brigade Los Angeles), “That Noise” (Williamstown Theatre Festival), “Huzzah!” (Williamstown Theatre Festival)
- Digital: “Bookshelf” (Funny or Die)
Interesting Fact: I hold the high score for Galaga at the arcade in my hometown. You should find this very cool!!
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Anosh Michael McAdam
Actor
Name: Anosh Michael McAdam
Hometown: Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Education: B.A., Psychology, University of British Columbia
Training: Upright Citizen’s Brigade (Los Angeles)
Credits:
- Television: “A Little Late w/ Lilly Singh” (NBC)
- Film: “Under The Eiffel Tower” (Netflix, 2018)
- Digital: “College Humor: Troopers” (YouTube)
- Podcast: “Finding Markus Tronque” (Earwolf)
Interesting Fact: Co-wrote a 2021 Super Bowl commercial.
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Austin Antoine
Actor
Name: Austin Antoine
Hometown: Laurel, MD
Education: BFA, Acting, California Institute of the Arts
Training: California Institute of the Arts
Credits:
- Digital: Summertime - 2021 (Various Film Platforms)
Interesting Fact: I set the Guinness World Record for Longest Freestyle Rap in 2013 (16.5 hours)
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Bri Giger
Actor
Name: Bri Giger
Education: Studied at U of A; BFA Theatre Arts program.
Training: Upright Citizen Brigade, IO West. Beverly Hills Playhouse
Credits:
- Television: AdultSwim, Hulu, Book of Queer 2022
- Stage: National Touring One woman show, "Through MY high Eyes" UCB, IO WEST, Dynasty Typewriter, Don't Tell Mamma, Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, New York Comedy Club ETC.
Interesting Fact: My dog’s name is “Solange”.
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Carey Cox
Actor
Name: Carey Cox
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Education: BFA musical theatre Santa Fe University of Art and Design, MFA Acting UNC Chapel Hill
Training: Upright Citizen's Brigade, Queens Theatre "Theater for all" training program.
Credits:
- Film: "Woohoo" (A24 films)
- Stage:"The Glass Menagerie" (Broadway) "The Glass Menagerie" (Guthrie Theatre) "Barefoot in the Park" (Queens Theatre) "Hans Christian Andersen" (Nashville Children's Theatre) "Three Sisters," "Sweeney Todd," "Seminar," "We are Proud to Present," "Trouble in Mind," "Into the Woods," "Mary's Wedding" (Playmakers Repertory Company)
- Digital: "Gifted" (Queens Theatre produced webseries)
Interesting Fact: I'm also a playwright and a visual artist.
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Dickie Hearts
Actor
Name: Dickie Hearts
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Education: BA, 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 & New York), Acting with Jules Dameron
Credits:
- 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: There’s no one like me out there; a Deaf, gay, BIPOC fabulous guy!
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Glo Tavarez
Actor
Name: Glo Tavarez
Hometown: Kissimmee, FL
Education: University of Central Florida Dropout
Training: I trained at Upright Citizens Brigade for close to 10 years.
Credits:
- Television: I shot a pilot for Showtime that never got picked up.
Interesting Fact: Tell me your sign and I'll tell you about yourself.
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Jordan Stafford
Actor
Name: Jordan Stafford
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Education: B.S. Theater/ Fine Art, Saginaw Valley State University
Training: The Second City (Chicago), Improv Olympics (Chicago), The Acting Studio (Chicago)
Credits:
- 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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Lureena Cornwell
Actor
Name: Lureena Cornwell
Hometown: Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Education: Jacqueline M Walsh School of the Performing Arts
Training: Providence Improv Guild, iO (Chicago)
Credits:
- Television:Chicago P.D (NBC)
- Film:Unplugging, The Miseducation of Bindu
- Stage:Studio Eleven (iO Chicago) Hootie Hoo (iO House Team)
- Film:Brothers From the Suburbs, Dear Friend
Interesting Fact: Soup Connoisseur
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Sahana Srinivasan
Actor
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 (TX)
Credits:
- Television:“Brainchild" (Netflix), “Insecure” (HBO), “Fear the Walking Dead” (AMC)
Interesting Fact: In 2nd grade I did the weather for my school’s morning announcements and all the 6th graders asked for my autograph.
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Shuang Hu
Actor
Name: Shuang Hu
Hometown: Tianjin, China
Education: Hotel Management and International Business - Griffith University
Training: Upright Citizen's Brigade (Los Angeles)
Credits:
- 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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Sibel Damar
Actor
Name: Sibel Damar
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education: BFA Acting, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Training: Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (New York), The Freeman Studio, The People's Improv Theatre, Magnet Theatre
Credits:
- Television:FBI (CBS) Recurring Co-Star
- Stage:Characters Welcome (Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre), Boogie Manja (The Peoples Improv Theater), Much Ado About Nothing (Rude Grooms Theatre), Alls 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), @Sibel_Damar (TikTok/YouTube/IG)
Interesting Fact: My sense of smell is 5 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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Steve Han
Actor
Name: Steve Han
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Education: B.A., Biological Sciences, University of Chicago
Training: Second City (Chicago), ImprovOlympic (Chicago)
Credits:
- 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).
Paramount TEAM
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL HEAD OF INCLUSION at ViacomCBS and EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PUBLIC Affairs, Kids & Family Entertainment Brands at ViacomCBS Media Networks
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL INCLUSION, ViacomCBS
SR. MANAGER, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL INCLUSION, ViacomCBS
SR. COORDINATOR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL INCLUSION, ViacomCBS
SR. COORDINATOR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION, THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL INCLUSION, ViacomCBS
Executive Vice President, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment
Vice President, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment
Vice President, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment
Director of Talent and Casting, CBS Entertainment
Casting Executive, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment (NY)
Director, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment (NY)
Coordinator, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment (NY)
Administrative Assistant, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment
Administrative Assistant, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment
Administrative Assistant, Talent & Casting, CBS Entertainment
ABOUT
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 Paramount properties, as well as other networks and streamers, in addition to talent agents and managers from across the entertainment industry.
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.