BY BELINDA BREMNER
The
world is a bit bleaker since Maureen Brookman of Stewart Talent Management
has left us. This pocket dynamo of mirth and grace died on Nov. 4 of complications
from the West Nile virus. It is reported that she contracted the disease
a little over a year ago at her home, and had since suffered from partial
paralysis and West Nile encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Brookman
served as director of the Film/TV division at the agency for over two
decades and helped launch the successful careers of numerous Chicago actors.
She is survived by her husband Robert K. Brookman, three sons and three
stepchildren as well as her brothers and sisters'R. Peter Sullivan III,
Kevin, Sheila and Karen Sullivan. Burial services took place on Nov. 7
in Southhampton, New York and a memorial service was held at St. Theresa
Catholic Church in Chicago on Nov. 10. At the request of the family, donations
may be sent to The Actors' Fund, 729 Seventh Ave., New York, New York,
10019.
In
other agency news, there is a new alliance in the works. Much in the manner
of Stewart-Elite, Ford Models recently bought out Aria Talent to form
Ford Models and Aria Talent. For those of you keeping a scorecard, Aria
absorbed Suzanne's A Plus in 2000, while Ford entered the Chicago market
in 1998 with the purchase of David and Lee. Although the merger makes
Ford Models the largest modeling agency in town, Aria Talent will remain
a small, all-exclusive boutique talent agency within the company. Marie
Anderson, former co-owner of Aria, will serve as the general manager of
Aria while partner Mary Boncher minds the accounting. Bob Schroeder stays
on as director, assisted by Rae Ruff in TV/Film and Molly Reid in the
children's division. The new Aria phone number is 312/850-9671.
Regina
Prokop, who recently returned to Chicago, may soon be opening her extras
casting door again. Actors interested in possible extra bookings should
e-mail her with your name and phone number at reginacast@aol.com. No phone
or paper submissions, please.
Tenner
Paskal Rudnicke have been hyper-busy with commercial castings. Projects
include Pert, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Triscuit, Wisconsin Lottery, Phillip
Morris, Raisin Bran, Always and Prevacid. Booked on Kentucky Fried Chicken
were: Nancy Baird, Timothy Simmons, Jonathon Keaton, Jake Armstrong, Jesse
Weaver, Jeff Christian, Keagan Michael Key, David Coronado, Danny McCarthy,
Taylor Bowen, Nicholas Polster and Jennifer Martin. And Heather O'Brien,
Keely Vasquez and Jeff Christian were booked for Wisconsin Lottery.
Simon
Casting has been a whirlwind of casting for Madison Repertory Theatre's
The Drawer Boy. Booked were Jason Bradley, Craig Spidel and John Sterchi.
For the Madison Rep's production of The Piano Lesson, they cast Cedric
Young, DJ Howrad, Ronnell Taylor, Ann Joseph and Damani Singleton. They
are also conducting pilot searches for a Paramount/Fox's 'Related by Family'
and Touchstone/ABC's 'Doing It,' as well as ABC Channel's 'Switched.'
They are also conducting a search for a Universal Studios feature starring
Will Ferrell entitled, strangely, 'The Untitled Will Ferrell Soccer Movie.'
About
this time I always ask for suggestions of opportunity to create lighter
hearts in the Season of Lights. Please e-mail me your ideas and they will
run next month. PerformInk readers are always so generous in their responses.
Peace.