Yes, it’s true. The lovely Jennifer Rudnicke, founder of JAZ Casting, has joined forces with Rachel Tenner and Mickie Paskal to form the partnership of Tenner Paskal & Rudnicke Casting.

Tenner Paskal (formerly Brody Tenner Paskal) has been at the epicenter of Chicago film, commercial and television casting for the past seven years. Rudnicke–who has been casting since 1994–created JAZ Casting in 1999, while also freelancing with Tenner Paskal. The Three Graces have been very busy the last several months casting Robert Altman’s The Company, their first collaborative project.

Rachel Tenner, who has recently worked with the Coen Brothers, will be spending additional time in Los Angeles in order to "provide clients a broader base of talent and resources." By merging with Rudnicke, Mickie Paskal (who will be a mommy again any minute now) says, "We will be taking our successful, well-established team to a much greater level." Paskal is referencing what Rudnicke terms as "all media casting," the expansion into projects such as print work and music videos. Rudnicke says that although she is dropping the JAZ name, "Ideally my clients will follow me where I go." Best wishes to the triumvirate on their combined and individual ventures.

Speaking of The Company, cast additions include Maryanne Mayberry, Rick Peeples, John Lorden, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Paul Oakley Stovall and Yasen Peyankov. Also for the silver screen, Tenner Paskal & Rudnicke are conducting a search for an actress for Sony’s Twenty One Grams, which stars Sean Penn, Benicio del Torro and Naomi Watts. Commercial projects include spots for Lowes, Isotoner, Tarnex and Europro Vacuum.

Big screen projects are also keeping Jane Alderman busy. She is still casting for The Game of Their Lives and on the small screen, she’s working on "ER." Alderman’s script, Dreams of Black Men, will be read Oct. 25 at Links Hall. Reading will be Katheryn Finch and Scott Victor Nelson.

It’s been busy at Claire Simon Casting. They booked Joe Kroka on a Terrik pesticide spot. For Discover Card they booked: Michael Bertrando, Heath Corson, Albena Dodeva, Glen Fahlstrom, Chris Rehmann, Brian McCaskill, Michael Loeffelholz, Pam Mack, Tom White, Kimberly Barlow, Deb Johnson, Vince Green, Michael Ingram, Terry Berner, Tanya Saracho, Manao DeMuth, Ronnell Taylor, Dan Salinger, Kurt Merrill, Kristen Blocher, Christopher and Alexander Britt, Jill Monaco, Tom Gaitsch, Taylor Bright, Nora Newbrough, Rachel Lovely, Lesley Beven and Sue Wynn. A Sears Land’s End industrial went to Joey Honsa and Randy Steinmeyer, while Frank Ziede, Mary Beth Dolan, Carley Wagner and Kevin Strum were booked for the company’s commercial. Claire also cast Terry Berner, Trace Hultgren, Nora Newbrough and Brian Boland for a political commercial. She is currently working on a Humana industrial as well as the independent film Bad Meat.

On the Chicago film front, it looks as though we will get a week or so of Spiderman II as well as a January date with Ben Affleck and Christina Applegate for Dreamworks’ Surviving Christmas. Word is encouraging for the WB feature Angry White Men. And the buzz–you will forgive the pun–is good on Barber Shop II

Finally, Lily’s sends word that there were commercial bookings for Joey and Anthony Pelliccioni, Anna Pullen, Roger Anderson, Heather O’Brien, Peter Nicholas, Audrey Allen, Cali Ali, Brad Stevens, Evelyn Hubbell, Michael Kinnavy, Christian Hock, Elizabeth Arceneaux, Max Chung, Genaro Garza, Sarah McMaster, Parvesh Cheena and Jermaine Randle. Voice-overs went to clients Steve Reardon, Nate Noggle, Mike Wilner, Valerie Glowinski and Jim Goss. And industrials went to Brianna De Salvo, Aaron Tyson, Deborah Tyson, Anthony Hill, Abigail and Shane Busch, Liam Phee and Patience Blessing. The office is happy to announce that client Allen Alvarado will be this year’s Tiny Tim at the Goodman and client Dean Karfis has booked his first film role.

Peace.