In talent agent Dawn Gray’s first two months of business, she placed one actor in a Broadway show and another in a Lifetime Movie of the Week, not to mention booking some of her talent for numerous other jobs.
New exclusive-only, union-franchised Gray Talent Group, also handling non-union actors, “specializes in strong actors of all ethnicities and hard-to-find types,” Gray said.
For now, the staff consists entirely of Gray, who spent eight years with Encore Talent, and associate agent Brooks Schoemaker, formerly with Claire Simon Casting. They work out of an 1,800-sq.ft. office in the West Loop.
“My experience as an agent, film producer in marketing has given me a clear vision for both talent management and client service,” said Gray.
Her business model is booking a small number of actors ? she has and will maintain an exclusive list of 150 ? on a lot of work.
“We have a passion to work closely with a select number of actors to help them develop their career, whether they work here or ultimately head for L.A. or New York,” Gray said.
Among her recent jobs, she placed Bubba Wiler in the Lifetime movie, “America,” starring Rosie O’Donnell, and negotiated a Broadway contract for Greg Vinkler in “West Side Story.”
Closer to home, Gray Talent booked “numerous voiceovers, commercials, theatre and interactive projects,” including a State Farm on-camera job for Steve Bayogeon and an on-camera Blue Cross-Blue Shield gig for Janet Aldrich.
Gray Talent Group is located at 222 S. Morgan; phone, 312/666-5404. See
