Actors far and wide travel to the Big Apple to pursue careers on the stage, and or in front of the camera – but where do they find casting agencies? Well, we’re going to help focus the search by breaking down the best casting agencies NYC edition. By the end, you’ll know where to look for New York casting agencies.
Casting Companies in New York
Backstage
Founded in 1960
45 Main St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Famous talent: Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino; the list goes on and on.
Casting Calls NYC • How to Get An Agent by Backstage
“How did I get into acting? Well, I read a lot of Backstage. Everybody got Backstage. That's so funny. Backstage, wow. Doesn't every unemployed actor have their Backstage? That's the first step.”
– Scarlett Johannson on Backstage.
It’s no secret that some of the world’s biggest actors got their start by scouring casting listings on Backstage. Backstage has been around for more than 60+ years, which means it has a considerable track record.
Best Casting Agencies NYC
Conclusion
With testimonials from stars far and wide, there’s no reason not to sign up for “the most trusted name in casting.”
Casting Companies NYC
Buchwald
Founded in 1977
10 E 44th St, New York, NY 10017
Services: National acting representation
NY Casting Companies • David Elliot of Buchwald Breaks Down Services of the Agency
Buchwald is a great casting agency because it represents talent in just about every industry imaginable. Broadcast? Check. Theater? Check. V.O.? Check. Buchwald does it all – and that’s one reason why it’s such a respected NYC casting agency.
Casting Calls NYC
Conclusion
With offices in New York City and Los Angeles, Buchwald makes it easy to be a two-coast client. They also make it easy to attain more information; just go to their site and e-mail the relevant department.
NYC Extras Casting Agencies
Central Casting
Founded in 1925
5 Pennsylvania Plaza 10th floor, New York, NY 10001
Specializes in background actors
Casting Calls NYC • History of Central Casting
Did you know that former Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America President Will Hays founded Central Casting. Yeah, like that Will Hays; as in the guy who instituted the Hays Code.
Coincidences aside, Central Casting is a great casting agency for background actors looking for “extras” work.
Casting Companies in New York
Conclusion
Central Casting is no longer exclusively a “New York casting agency” – but it certainly still has a big presence in the Big Apple.
NY Casting Companies
Creative Artists Agency
Founded in 1975
405 Lexington Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10174
Services: Transnational acting representation
Best Casting Agencies in New York • Creative Artists Agency President Richard Lovett Explains His Job
Creative Artists Agency is a behemoth in the casting world. Unfortunately, that means it’s highly selective; it also means it devours smaller boutiques for breakfast. But don’t fear, the United States’ biggest creative agency is a representation agency to strive towards.
Best Casting Agencies NYC
Conclusion
With offices in New York, London, Shanghai, Geneva, and more, CAA makes a splash in just about every market.
Casting Calls NYC
Donna Grossman
Founded in 1991
12 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001
Services: Actors, models, and “real people.”
Casting Companies NYC • Audition for Donna Grossman, via Mitch Slater
Donna Grossman Casting is a well-reviewed casting agency for actors and models in NYC. A quick look through Donna Grossman Casting’s Instagram page shows that the agency is focused on modeling work; perhaps more than other boutique agencies in New York City.
Casting Services NYC
Conclusion
You can contact Donna Grossman Casting by mail, phone, or social media. All of the relevant information is posted on the “contact” page on the website.
Best Casting Agencies NYC
KMR Talent Agency
Founded in 1957
World’s Tower Building, 110 W 40th Street, Suite 1101, New York, NY
Services: National casting representation
NY Casting Companies • KMR Talent Q&A
KMR Talent represents talent in a diverse set of fields, including theater, literature, stunts, and film/television. The NYC office of KMR Talent has strong connections with theater on and off Broadway.
KMR Talent has a strong reputation in the casting world – so it’s absolutely worth pursuing a working relationship with them.
Best Casting Agencies in New York
Conclusion
In the Q&A above, KMR Talent agents recommend connecting through a shared connection. Ask colleagues in your field if they know anybody represented by KMR, then go from there.
NY Casting Companies
NYCastings
Founding not listed
311 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036
Services: National casting listings
NYC Extras Casting Agencies • NYCastings Site Tutorial
NYCastings is a feature-rich site for actors looking for work. The NYCastings’ website may not have the most intuitive user interface – but it does the trick. And don’t let the name NYCastings fool you, they feature job postings across the United States.
Casting Calls NYC
Conclusion
To find acting work in New York City, simply become a NYCastings member, then sort by New York Area.
New York Talent Agencies
The Gersh Agency
Founded in 1949
New York, 41 Madison Avenue, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10010
Services: National acting representation
Best Talent Agencies NYC • Alexander Yarosh, Head of Talent, The Gersh Agency by Ed Tech Team
The Gersh Agency is actually more of a Los Angeles talent agency – but it still has a huge presence in NYC. In fact, many working theater actors have relationships with The Gersh Agency.
The Gersh Agency isn’t as big as CAA or WME, which might be a good thing if you’re still working your way to the top.
Top Talent Agencies NYC
Conclusion
To get into Gersh, you’re going to need a referral. Reach out to colleagues to see if they have any connections.
NY Talent Agencies
United Talent Agency
Founded in 1991
888 7th Ave, New York, NY 10106
Services: Transnational acting representation
Top Talent Agencies NYC • Jeremy Zimmer on Changing Office Culture at UTA by Chicago Ideas
United Talent Agency has jumped into the 21st century by making some smart moves; first by removing executives who were enabling “bad office culture,” second by expanding their sports division via the signing of mega-agent Rich Paul, and third by leveraging new technologies.
Of course, it’s hard to praise the company too much from afar. But it does seem like they’re making the right decisions; albeit from an outside perspective.
Top 10 Talent Agencies in NYC
Conclusion
United Talent Agency is a transnational, juggernaut talent agency; no doubt one of the best NY talent agencies.
Top Talent Agencies NYC
William Morris Endeavor
Founded in 1898
11 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010,
Services: Transnational acting representation
Best NY Talent Agencies • Working at WME by psettings
William Morris Endeavor – or as it was once known: William Morris Agency – has been around longer than just about any of the other New York talent agencies. Over the past 120+ years, Williams Morris Endeavor has grown in size, opening offices in LA, Nashville, London, and Sydney.
WME is not in the business of signing unproven talent. But just know that it’s regarded as one of the best talent agencies in New York.
Top Talent Agencies NYC
Conclusion
A quick scroll through WME’s talent roster shows some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and more.
Casting Companies in New York
Note on NYC Casting Agencies
These are just some of the best casting agencies NYC edition. Of course, businesses are subject to change – and there’s no guarantee that all of the agencies mentioned here will be in business forever.
Stay up to date on NYC casting agencies by checking out the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Casting & Talent page. There, you’ll find government-sanctioned recommendations and promo codes.
Up Next
Ultimate Guide to Auditions
Whether you’ve never acted before or you’ve starred in a big-budget film, there’s no getting around it, you’re going to need to audition. In our next article, we break down everything there is to know about casting auditions from casting sheets to callbacks. By the end, you’ll know how an efficient audition is run.
Up Next: Guide to Audition [FREE Casting Sheet Template] →
Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards.
Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.
