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Writer's pictureWalid Chaya

2022 MENASA Diversity Showcase Screens Over 65 Actors Online At Studio For Performing Arts LA & MAAC

EVENT RECAP: “2022 MENASA Diversity Showcase” presented by Studio For Performing Arts LA & MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition


Over 65 actors of MENASA descent were virtually screened and performed for an exclusive television and film industry panel last Saturday, part of a diversity initiative produced by Studio For Performing Arts LA (SPALA) and MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition (MAAC).


The 2nd annual "MENASA Diversity Showcase" was held online on April 30, 2022. Actors of MENASA (Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia) descent were invited to submit and request an appointment. Selected actors had the opportunity to perform a one-minute monologue online for a VIP panel. MAAC conducted the first ever study of its kind and revealed, “Only 1 percent of TV actors are Middle Eastern, North African.” Additionally, just this past year per UCLA's Hollywood Diversity Report, there were ZERO MENA Actors as leading actors in films.


The following actors performed for the industry panet at the 2022 showcase:

  1. Nicola Aara

  2. Ariana Aftahi

  3. Maher Aghnim

  4. Zhane Amari

  5. Anusha Angur

  6. Qurrat Ann Kadwani

  7. Saba Askari

  8. Sabrina Aziz

  9. Geetika Budhiraja

  10. Eden Butvinik

  11. Rabinder Campbell

  12. Joseph Courey

  13. Jessica Cruz

  14. Nicole Cyrille

  15. Zee Dastagir

  16. Pranav Dev

  17. Danya El-Kurd

  18. Emon Elboudwarej

  19. Srimayi Galla

  20. Vritika Gupta

  21. Sophia Gutchinov

  22. Atif Hashwi

  23. Mikael Hylu

  24. Tayeb Jasoor

  25. Alyssa Jiwani

  26. Shawn K. Jain

  27. Sarah Kamran

  28. Saer Karim

  29. Faris Khaleeli

  30. Rebecca Khalil

  31. Saalika Khan

  32. Megan Khaziran

  33. Julian Kiani

  34. Zaya Kolia

  35. Sapna Kumar

  36. Khalil LeSaldo

  37. Rachanee Lumayno

  38. Maral Milani

  39. Selena Mirza

  40. Shuba Mohan

  41. Amira Nader

  42. Machelle Noel

  43. Katie Prasad Keough

  44. Amelia Prochaska

  45. Yasmin Ranz-Lind

  46. Ocean Rockelle

  47. Dalia Rooni

  48. Ahmad Salah

  49. Aline Salloum

  50. Demitra Sealy

  51. Sheela Sharma

  52. Kimberly Singh

  53. Jurnee Swan

  54. Piyali Syam

  55. Rotana Tarabzouni

  56. Ezra Tozian

  57. Precious Ugbodu

  58. Sara Vessal

  59. Nour Waleed Zuaiter

  60. Bruno Xavier

  61. Wilder Yari

  62. Cynthia Yelle

  63. Rokhsane Zadeh

  64. Tarek Zohdy

  65. Laith Zuaiter

Within the last two years, the MENASA Diversity Showcase has provided over 145 actors of MENASA descent a platform for exposure to LA & NY industry professionals at no cost to the performers and was also the WINNER of the 2021 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards for "Best Special Event.”




Walid Chaya, Arab-American Actor and Director of Studio For Performing Arts LA, said “We're proud to provide a platform for underrepresented actors and thankful for our industry volunteers and the incredible line-up of actors that presented. Together we can create a more inclusive industry and look forward to growing this diversity initiative annually.”

A special thank you to the following television and film VIPs that attended the 2022 event:

  • Ani Avetyan, Casting Director

  • Eve Battaglia, Casting Director

  • Robin Carus, Casting Director

  • Anne Chapman, Casting Director

  • David Donihue, Director

  • Debralynn Findon, Manager

  • Vicki Goggin, Casting Director

  • Angela Mickey, Casting Director

  • Steven Tyler O'Connor, Casting Director

  • Alexa Pereira, Casting Director

  • Rita Powers, Casting Director

  • Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, Casting Director

  • Javier Salgado, Manager

  • Michael Sanford, Casting Director

  • Paul Sinacore, Casting Director

  • Pamela Staton, Casting Director

  • Maria Stuart, Manager

Here are 3 ways you can support our event partners, the MENA Arts Advocacy Coalition (MAAC), a not-for-profit organization:


1) Please click here and join their MENA Talent Database for related opportunities

2) Follow them on Instagram @menaadvocacy

3) Please click here to make a donation, every little bit helps!



Actors interested in receiving notifications about similar events including next year's diversity initiative, please join our mailing list.


For upcoming events by Studio For Performing Arts LA visit studioforperformingarts.com and follow us on Instagram @studioforperformingarts for the latest updates.



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