A SHOWCASE, Charlotte Actors Celebrating a Memorable Evening at the Duke Energy Theater

Corlin Productions presented a one-night SHOWCASE, Actors Celebrating the Craft of Acting at the Duke Energy Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts with a reception catered by Uptown Caterers. This was an opportunity for the actors to perform for southeast region talent agents, casting directors and producers who attended along with the general public. The Charlotte actors included Brandi Alyssa Young, Martin Davis, Mackenzie O'Hara, Quinn Riback, Vironica Dawson, Clay Aggeles, Melissa Blomstrom, Jackie Love, Frank Picarelli, Melanie Ostrove, Morgan Smith, Rob Miller, Gray Gaertner, Paula L. Dean and Cory Riback, performing scenes and monologues from contemporary plays and films.  The evening was powerfully entertaining with an eclectic assortment of characters. It was very moving to see the commitment and strength of their work.

The actors who participated attend either my Master Class Acting & Scene Study Class using “Method” techniques or my Workshop Advanced Class for working actors and directors, both meet weekly at Spirit Square. Many of the actors who performed in the showcase are members of SAG-AFTRA or are SAG-AFTRA eligible. They are working actors.  In the last few years, North Carolina has become a beacon for attracting film and television production.  Charlotte has been host to "Homeland", "The Hunger Games" and "Banshee". And Charlotte is finally getting the recognition it deserves for being a city worthy of prominence by hosting the Democratic National Convention this week. 

With talk of Charlotte becoming the 'East Coast Hollywood' with more production coming to town because of the increased tax incentives and the city of Charlotte officially purchasing the Eastland Mall to develop it into a movie studio, the actors in Charlotte are working hard to be a ready talent pool when ground breaks for a new state-of-the-art movie studio. The optimism of actors in this town is not backing down. 

The next Corlin Productions presents A SHOWCASE is scheduled for Spring 2013. Information on the Showcase or the classes at www.charlotteacting.com, watt@charlotteacting.com

Cory Riback and Paula L. Dean

Quinn Riback and Mackenzie O'Hara

Clay Aggeles, Gray Gaertner and Rob Miller

Frank Picarelli and Jackie Love 

Linda Ann Watt is a member of SAG, AFTRA and AEA and owns Corlin Productions, a union franchised production house. Through Corlin Productions, Watt has written and directed film, television, documentaries, commercials and educational programs with celebrity guests including Betty White, Nell Carter, Dom DeLuise, Aaron Neville, Tippi Hedren and Sid Caesar. Watt teaches two acting & scene study classes at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center—the Master Class using "Method" techniques and the Workshop Advanced for working actors, directors and writers. Watt has been a recipient of a Grass Roots Arts Project (GAP) Grant 2008-2012, awarded through the Union County Community Arts Council (UCCAC) and the North Carolina Arts Council for an Enrichment Arts Program teaching acting and filmmaking & editing to youth, coordinated though Union County Public School (UCPS). Watt produces lectures featuring entertainment industry and celebrity guests for the Charlotte community. As a past executive board member of Women In Film in Los Angeles, Watt chaired and produced the Academy Awards© Viewing Party four consecutive years, which became an annual top Hollywood event. Watt has appeared in movies, television stage and national commercials. Watt is presently in post-production with her children’s series for Funny Productions, a division of Corlin Productions and she has been asked to direct a feature film "Thirty Day Promise" in late summer. For more information: www.corlinproductions.com

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