Shows
I Wanna Be Like You with Elbi CespedesI Wanna Be Like Merri Sugarman!Today, I Wanna Be Like Merri Sugarman! Merri Sugarman is a Casting Director for The TRC Company whose work spans decades of Broadway and on screen work. Prior to casting, Merri was an actor having been in the national tour of Les Miserables (which she now casts) and Aspects of Love. She then went on to cast for the screen on shows like Freaks & Geeks, The Larry Sanders Show as well as Spin City! Now she casts for numerous shows on and off Broadway and across the country most recently including The Who’s Tommy, Here Lies Love, and Co...
2025-11-181h 12
Little Known Facts with Ilana LevineEpisode 449 - Merri SugarmanInitially an actress ('Les Miserables', 'Aspects of Love', et al.), Merri found herself out West some years back where she quickly made a name for herself at Liberman/Hirschfeld Casting, then Liberman/Patton Casting, working on such shows as Seinfeld, Party of Five, HBO’s Band of Brothers, the feature film My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the Miramax feature film "Playing By Heart", starring Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie. In 2000, Merri moved to Dreamworks Studios as the Casting Executive in charge of TV Pilots and Series- including "Spin City", “Freaks and Geeks” and the cri...
2025-03-3143 min
The Working Actor NYCCasting Directors: They're Directors! In Casting!!Getting to grips with Casting Directors! - Memories like elephants, for better or worse - Casting Directors can be good directors AND good eggs! - Building a relationship with Casting Directors - The importance of type - Television casting - The value of the open call/EPA/chorus call - Pay for play - Your old friend, mindset Name checked: Tara Rubin, Mel Brooks, Susan Stroman, Merri Sugarman, Bernie Telsey, Paul Hardt, Jay Binder, Gayle Seay, Scott Wojcik, Austin Pendleton, Rock Hudson
2025-01-2028 min
The Working Actor NYCIn Person Auditions. Actual and IRL!After the self tape comes the callback - IN PERSON! - Rituals about getting in the room - A chance to act, ONE NIGHT ONLY! - Mindset & chemistry - vs Self Tapes - How to start - The Reader - Great audition fails - Listening and taking adjustments - How much material is too much? Name checked: Al Pacino, Susan Blackwell, Tom Hanks, Alaska Thunderfxck, Sally Wilfert, Mel Brooks, Susan Stroman, Tina Landau, Merri Sugarman, Tara Rubin
2025-01-0623 min
The Broadway CastCasting Directors | Merri Sugarman, Benton WhitleyIn this episode we are getting all kinds of information on casting directors! Joining host Ben Cameron are Merri Sugarman (Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations, Miss Saigon) and Benton Whitley (On the Town, Chicago, Pippin). Ben and the group talk about what exactly a casting director does, the process of auditioning actors and working with the creatives of the show, and more!
Want more Broadway Cast? Want access to bonus episodes? Want to have your questions asked on our show? We can make all of those dreams (and more) come true! CLICK HERE TO...
2024-01-111h 11
Gays ReadingBooks, Broadway, & Beyond feat. Kait Kerrigan, Merri Sugarman, & Matthew ChislingJason and Brett's love for books and Broadway come together in this exciting episode! They talk to musical book writer and lyricist Kait Kerrigan about adapting The Great Gatsby for the stage, Merri Sugarman about the casting process and her new book From Craft to Career, and Matthew Chisling (aka @mattyandthebooks) about book adaptations coming to Broadway. A behind-the-scenes conversation you won't want to miss!Kait Kerrigan is an award-winning lyricist, book writer, and playwright. She is an alumnus of Barnard College and the B...
2023-12-1258 min
LITTLE ME: Growing Up BroadwaySpotlight on... Merri SugarmanIn this special SPOTLIGHT episode, Marc sits down with Broadway Casting Director, MERRI SUGARMAN to chat about her career and her new book: From Craft to Career, A Casting Directors Guide for the Actor!Merri Sugarman (of Tara Rubin Casting) has cast the Broadway, touring, Chicago, Las Vegas and international companies of Spamalot, Jersey Boys, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Jesus Christ Superstar, It Shoulda Been You, School of Rock, Miss Saigon, A Bronx Tale and Ain't Too Proud. She has also cast for many regional t...
2023-03-3052 min
Mapping The College Audition: An MTCA PodcastMerri Sugarman (Tara Rubin Casting) on Building Rapport with CastingIn this Artist Exploration, Merri Sugarman from Tara Rubin Casting and MTCA Director, Charlie Murphy discuss:
How does a Casting Director has with Producer
How do build a relationship with a Casting Director
What makes a Casting Director bring an actor into the room
How to become a reader
To purchase Merri’s book visit: From Craft to Career: A Casting Director’s Guide for the Actor- Available April 20, 2023 Looking to hear more about MTCA? Join us on February 27th, 2023 from 8pm-9pm for the JUNIOR WORKSHOP, rsvp HERE! Just...
2023-02-221h 06
Mapping the College Audition: Artist ExplorationMerri Sugarman (Tara Rubin Casting) on Building Rapport with CastingIn this Artist Exploration, Merri Sugarman from Tara Rubin Casting and MTCA Director, Charlie Murphy discuss:
How does a Casting Director has with Producer
How do build a relationship with a Casting Director
What makes a Casting Director bring an actor into the room
How to become a reader
To purchase Merri’s book visit: From Craft to Career: A Casting Director’s Guide for the Actor- Available April 20, 2023 Looking to hear more about MTCA? Join us on February 27th, 2023 from 8pm-9pm for the JUNIOR WORKSHOP, rsvp HERE! Just...
2023-02-221h 06
The Broadway CastCasting Directors | Merri Sugarman, Benton WhitleyIn this episode we are getting all kinds of information on casting directors! Joining host Ben Cameron are Merri Sugarman (Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations, Miss Saigon) and Benton Whitley (On the Town, Chicago, Pippin). Ben and the group talk about what exactly a casting director does, the process of auditioning actors and working with the creatives of the show, and more!Want more Broadway Cast? Want access to bonus episodes? Want to have your questions asked on our show? We can make all of those dreams (and more) come true! CLICK HERE T...
2022-11-221h 11
The Broadway CastCasting Directors | Merri Sugarman, Benton WhitleyIn this episode we are getting all kinds of information on casting directors! Joining host Ben Cameron are Merri Sugarman (Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations, Miss Saigon) and Benton Whitley (On the Town, Chicago, Pippin). Ben and the group talk about what exactly a casting director does, the process of auditioning actors and working with the creatives of the show, and more!
Want more Broadway Cast? Want access to bonus episodes? Want to have your questions asked on our show? We can make all of those dreams (and more) come true! C...
2022-11-221h 11
Parenting in the Spotlight: How to Raise a Child Actor Without Screwing Them UpHow to Get Cast in a Broadway Show with Merri Sugarman of Tara Rubin CastingUnderstanding how your child fits into the world of auditions and theatre can be challenging and difficult to navigate, but in this episode Merri Sugarman of Tara Rubin casting provides top insider advice to help demystify the process. Having worked in the industry for many years, she knows everything a parent should do to be the best support system and advocate for their child while also trying to navigate the business of show business. Join her and Denise as they walk you through all of the ins and outs of theatre auditions for young actors.
2022-05-0347 min
A Moment of Your Time313 - “Life is a Ride” by Samantha H. Lucas “SHL" & Jahir HippsSamantha H. Lucas is based in New York City. Samantha holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Theater Performance, Honors from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory out of Berea, OH. Her education abroad has included both Det Danske Musicalademi-Danish Academy of Musical Theater, and Barefoot Theater in Zambia, Africa. She has had the privilege of singing and performing with the Cleveland Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Front Porch Theatricals, and Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Billy Porter (Pose, Kinky Boots). Samantha has worked with New York Industry and Casting Professionals including Merri Sugarman and Claire Burke—Tara Rubin Casting, Chad Eric Mu...
2021-11-0204 min
Richard Skipper CelebratesCasting Director Merri Sugarman of The Broadway Mentors Program (01/21/2021)For video version, click here: https://youtu.be/faoiKHW1T6M Initially an actress, Merri found herself out West some years back where she quickly made a name for herself at Liberman/Hirschfeld, then Liberman/Patton Casting, working on such shows as "NewsRadio", "The Larry Sanders Show" and the Miramax feature film "Playing By Heart", starring Sean Connery and Angelina Jolie. Merri then returned to the East Coast to teach and coach actors – something she still does (and loves) as time permits, when Tara Rubin offered her a Casting Director position where she’s been happily ensconced ever since, working on c...
2021-01-2358 min
Jack of All Trades, Master of NothingEpisode 8: Merri Sugarman- Casting, Trusting and Listening to Your GutAs artists, what do we talk about when the world's on hold? From Casting Director to Actor, we take a deep dive. This week, we're joined by Merri SugarmanMerri Sugarman- Casting Director, Tara Rubin Casting.Initially an actress ('Les Miserables', 'Aspects of Love', et al.), Merri found herself out West some years back where she quickly made a name for herself at Liberman/Hirschfeld, then Liberman/Patton Casting, working on such shows as "NewsRadio", "The Larry Sanders Show" and the Miramax feature film "Playing By Heart", starringSean Connery a...
2020-12-071h 41