CD Tiffany Canfield Talks About 'Smash'

CD Tiffany Canfield Talks About 'Smash' By Simi Horwitz September 1, 2011 Photo by NBC "Smash" Set in the heady world of Broadway, with warring egos and conflicts aplenty, NBC's "Smash" is already generating buzz. A successful songwriting team (Debra Messing and Christian Borle) is working on a musical inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe. An aggressive producer (Anjelica Huston) comes on board, and the casting crises begin. Will the veteran land the starring role, or will it go to a newbie? Will the womanizing director botch the whole project?Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening," "American Idiot") directed the pilot, which was written by Theresa Rebeck, who also serves as an executive producer along with Steven Spielberg and others. Songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("Hairspray," "Catch Me If You Can") are also part of the stellar creative team. "Smash" should have special resonance for New York actors, as it dramatizes their experiencesnegotiating the rugged terrain of getting cast and the tumult that follows.Given the subject matter and locale, a spectrum of ethnically and culturally diverse actors will appear on the show, says casting director Tiffany Canfield of Telsey + Company: "Diversity is always on the forefront of our mind." Within those broad parameters, however, she expects special opportunities to come up for dancers in their 20s and 30s. Dancing and musical skills will be in demand; comedy chops will help too. "And we'll be looking for a lot of sexy people with a New York edge," she says. Relatable and accessible personalities may be the show's signature, and the acting style is realistic and honest, Canfield emphasizes.Asked if she would consider unsolicited headshots and rsums from actors who do not have representation, Canfield says it depends on the part. Though most actors on the show will be cast through agents or on the basis of recommendations, performers who have special skills, such as gymnastics or the ability to speak a foreign language, will occasionally be sought. In those instances, the casting director could very well turn to an unsolicited submission.At the audition, Canfield admires preparation, craft, and that intangible thing called "great acting." She has no problem with an actor asking questions, especially if they relate to the given circumstances of the scene or the relationships among its characters. She's also open to actors who would like to stop an audition and start again.Much of casting is intangible, Canfield says, so sometimes an unlikely actor will book the part. As an example, she cites the casting of unknown Jaime Cepero as one of the series regulars. "He's very fresh and young, but he was so appealing and such a good actor," she says. "He was able to capture a difficult quality." Telsey + Company, 311 W. 43rd St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036. CD Tiffany Canfield Talks About 'Smash' By Simi Horwitz September 1, 2011 "Smash" PHOTO CREDIT NBC Set in the heady world of Broadway, with warring egos and conflicts aplenty, NBC's "Smash" is already generating buzz. A successful songwriting team (Debra Messing and Christian Borle) is working on a musical inspired by the life of Marilyn Monroe. An aggressive producer (Anjelica Huston) comes on board, and the casting crises begin. Will the veteran land the starring role, or will it go to a newbie? Will the womanizing director botch the whole project?Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening," "American Idiot") directed the pilot, which was written by Theresa Rebeck, who also serves as an executive producer along with Steven Spielberg and others. Songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("Hairspray," "Catch Me If You Can") are also part of the stellar creative team. "Smash" should have special resonance for New York actors, as it dramatizes their experiencesnegotiating the rugged terrain of getting cast and the tumult that follows.Given the subject matter and locale, a spectrum of ethnically and culturally diverse actors will appear on the show, says casting director Tiffany Canfield of Telsey + Company: "Diversity is always on the forefront of our mind." Within those broad parameters, however, she expects special opportunities to come up for dancers in their 20s and 30s. Dancing and musical skills will be in demand; comedy chops will help too. "And we'll be looking for a lot of sexy people with a New York edge," she says. Relatable and accessible personalities may be the show's signature, and the acting style is realistic and honest, Canfield emphasizes.Asked if she would consider unsolicited headshots and rsums from actors who do not have representation, Canfield says it depends on the part. Though most actors on the show will be cast through agents or on the basis of recommendations, performers who have special skills, such as gymnastics or the ability to speak a foreign language, will occasionally be sought. In those instances, the casting director could very well turn to an unsolicited submission.At the audition, Canfield admires preparation, craft, and that intangible thing called "great acting." She has no problem with an actor asking questions, especially if they relate to the given circumstances of the scene or the relationships among its characters. She's also open to actors who would like to stop an audition and start again.Much of casting is intangible, Canfield says, so sometimes an unlikely actor will book the part. As an example, she cites the casting of unknown Jaime Cepero as one of the series regulars. "He's very fresh and young, but he was so appealing and such a good actor," she says. "He was able to capture a difficult quality." Telsey + Company, 311 W. 43rd St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036.