CHICAGO-BASED THE ONION, with its ever-expanding array of satirical comedy online and web shows, has signed Marisa Ross as its head of casting, a new position and title.
She is casting for union and non-union comedic talent to appear on The Onion, The Onion News, Onion Labs, AV Club and ClickHole shows.
Union talent for some of The Onion shows is being booked through talent agents, while Ross is building a database of up-and-coming non-union talent for Onion Labs through a series of open calls, with another to be held before the end of the year.
“I am literally looking for people who are fantastic comedians, of all ages, sizes and ethnicity,” Ross says.
The people who respond to the open calls, “are performers or students at the iO and Annoyance theatres and Second City who take their work very seriously,” she says.
Ross had been recruited for the new position by George Zwierznyski, The Onion’s new VP/production for The Onion, Onion News, AV Club and ClickHole, who had worked in comedy in LA.
Ross, who cast “How I Met Your Mother” for six seasons, is currently working on casting commercials for Onion Labs, “all fun, wonderful, new media videos.”
Headquartered in an office that at the new iO Theatre at 1501 N. Kingsbury, Ross’ casting assistant is Jen Noyes, a Columbia College graduate student.
Working for The Onion won’t prevent her from casting for film and TV, says Ross, who opened her business here in May, after many years in LA casting for comedy TV series.
A CALL FOR FEMALE LEADERS to show their solidarity has gone out for the Oct. 16 MAGIK MACARONI creative exhibition at Lacuna Artist Lofts, 2510 S. Canalport, hosted by the Art Directors Club and GERTRUDE, INC. The Chicago 50/50 Initiative photo shoot takes place at GERTRUDE’S global headquarters at Lacuna, 4-6 p.m. Click here to register or respond to Claire Wasserman, who is also the event contact.
For convenience, the 50/50 Initiative is providing a shuttle bus to the phone shoot and event start at 3:30 p.m., from the Leo Burnett building at 35 W. Wacker. A return bus leaves Magik Macaroni at 10:30 p.m.
AWARDS NIGHT, Friday, Oct. 17 at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival, with host Bill Zwecker, Sun-Times columnist and Ch. 32 entertainment reporter, takes place at the Sofitel Hotel. Awards will be bestowed upon winners of the International Competition, New Directors, Docufest, Hugo, Live Action and Animated Short Films Intercom and Chicago sections.
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