This info and Q&A session offers aspiring actors as well as parents of child actors a rare opportunity to gain insider advice, ask questions, and hear the real deal from a top agent (Barbara Coleman of Innovative Artists), manager (Dave McKeown, director of Edge Management), casting director (Emmy winner Jeanie Bacharach), and actress Cynthia Gibb about breaking in and working as a professional actor. Child/teen actors Jamie Mann (Netflix’s “Country Comfort”) and Shiloh Verrico (Netflix’s “Country Comfort,” Disney’s “Bunk’d”) will be on hand to chime in on their experiences riding the show biz rollercoaster.

Learn:
How to find representation
Do’s and don’ts when meeting with agents or managers
The difference between an agent and manager
Why headshots are key
The acting sites where you’ll need a profile
Self-taping tips
What casting directors are looking for
The importance of training
What happens when you/your child books a job

PANEL:
BARBARA COLEMAN has been a talent agent representing young talent for over 40 years. She currently represents children and teens at Innovative Artists, for commercials, voiceovers, animation, television, film, and theatre. Barbara is extremely well-versed in the regulations established to protect children in the industry. Current projects, lead roles: Sweettooth (Netflix), Mare of Easttown (HBO), Baby Sitter’s Club (Netflix), Bluebloods (CBS), Good Girls (NBC), Life & Beth (Hulu), Raising Dion (Netflix). Feature films: Hillbilly Elegy directed by Ron Howard, West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg. Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire, Caroline or Change. Many animated projects: Bubble Guppies, Santiago of the Seas, Little Ellen, Rolling with Otis, Bea’s Block, Pinkalicious & Peterrific, Friends in OZ, SuperKitties, to name a few.

DAVE MCKEOWN began his career with Shirley Grant Management in 1998 and headed up the theatrical and on-camera division until 2021, when he launched Edge Talent Management. Dave has represented and developed such talent as The Jonas Brothers, Kathleen Herles (original voice of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer), Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), Meg Donnelly (American Housewife), Devin Druid (13 Reasons Why), Alexa Swinton (And Just Like That), Jack Messina (Manifest), Swayam Bhatia (The Mighty Ducks), Alex Boniello and Michael Lee Brown (Dear Evan Hansen), and Westport’s and Triple Threat Academy’s own Jamie Mann (Country Comfort on Netflix), Cameron Mann (Mare of Easttown on HBO), and Natalia Mann (A California Christmas on Netflix).

JEANIE BACHARACH is an Emmy Winning and 5-time Emmy nominated casting director. She has been casting for television and film in Los Angeles for the past 20+ years, most recently on Station Eleven (HBO Max), The Dropout (Hulu), The Patient (FX), The Bear (FX), and Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+). Her previous work includes the original casting for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (for which she won an Emmy), Snowfall (FX), Nashville, Ally McBeal, Judging Amy, Brothers and Sisters, Manhattan and AMC’s Preacher and the Hulu series Castle Rock. Having started out as an actress, albeit briefly, she very much enjoys the creative and collaborative process of casting and working with actors.

CYNTHIA GIBB’s career started at the age of 14 when she was signed by Ford Models. She booked her first film at age 15 (Woody Allen’s “Stardust”) followed by numerous national commercials. Gibb was on her way to attend Middlebury College when she booked “Search For Tomorrow.” Gibb planned to attend college after that but a five-year contract on the series Fame derailed her plans to study political science and she went on to act in over 60 films, television movies, and series.

JAMIE MANN began studying with Cynthia Gibb at age 8. He went on to star as “Billy Elliot” in over 50 regional performances of Billy Elliot the Musical. On screen, Jamie stars as “Brody” in the music-themed Netflix show Country Comfort with Katharine McPhee (and fellow panelist Shiloh Verrico!). He has danced with the New York City Ballet and Alvin Ailey and is pursuing a musical theater BFA at the University of Michigan. He is represented by Innovative Artists and Dave McKeown .

SHILOH VERRICO has followed up her starring role as “Cassidy” in the Netflix comedy series Country Comfort with another series regular role, this time as “Winnie” in Disney’s popular show Bunk’d. The 11-year-old New Jersey native is currently in L.A. shooting Season 6. Shiloh began acting in the theater at age 5 and soon was cast in a national television commercial for Breyers Vanilla Bean ice cream. She has acted in a number of features and short films such as Crown Vic and multiple co-starring roles on network series. Shiloh has always found joy in singing wherever she goes and studies voice with Cynthia Gibb. She enjoys playing her ukulele and guitar and was able to demonstrate those skills and her signature husky voice on Country Comfort. Shiloh is represented by Paradigm.