The Telsey Office, in collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Miranda Family, have selected Domonique Aviles, Steven Gutierrez, and Miles Knight as the inaugural fellows for The Telsey Office Miranda Casting Fellowship.
"True representation is only possible when equitable opportunities are made available to those often left out of the equation," says Luis A. Miranda Jr. in a statement. The Telsey Office founder Bernie Telsey echoed Miranda in his own statement. "I was so excited to meet so many amazing applicants who want to go into casting who just haven't had the opportunity."
Domonique Aviles comes from Philadelphia, Steven Gutierrez from Los Angeles, and Miles Knight from Silver Spring, Maryland. All three will join the office virtually this month prior to moving to in-person in New York City starting next month.
The two-year, salaried position will provide the fellows with the opportunity to embed themselves in learning the craft of casting across a range of mediums while working intensively alongside industry professionals. Additionally, they will receive mentorship and training from The Telsey Office and join the network of Miranda Family Fellows. The program aims to provide them with the guidance and tools to navigate predominantly white institutions and to enact change in the industry.
The fellowship was announced last August as one step towards creating professional development opportunities for historically marginalized artists interested in a career in casting. After receiving over 750 applications and interviewing candidates, the plan to select one candidate changed to three with further support from The Telsey Office and the Miranda Family.
