Casting Director to Share Film Industry Expertise as Third McIlroy Professor This Year

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Professional casting director Elizabeth Barnes will be on the University of Arkansas campus next week to instruct drama students on various aspects of the entertainment industry and give two public lectures.

“The department of drama is thrilled to have Elizabeth Barnes with us next week as a guest artist,” said Andrew Gibbs, chair of the department of drama. “She’ll be presenting a week-long series of lectures and interactive workshops focused on performance and producing in the professional screen and TV industry. Her presentations will be directed to actors, directors, playwrights and designers at various stages in their academic careers.”

Barnes’ public events will be held at the Nadine Baum Studios in Fayetteville. At 7 p.m. on Monday, Apr. 23, she will present "Film/TV Industry Opportunities," a look at alternatives to acting in the film business such as writing, development, technical crew, agency/management and other professional opportunities. At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 24, her topic will be "The Business of Acting." This lecture considers some of the non-artistic skills actors need when trying to break into the entertainment industry. Both are free and open to the public.

 “Elizabeth's work with our students will provide an essential bridge for transitioning from theatre to film/TV, and from student to professional,” said Michael Landman, associate professor of drama and head of the Master of Fine Arts program in directing.

Barnes is a graduate of the department of drama in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and now lives in Los Angeles. She has been nominated for three Emmy Awards for casting for her work on the HBO Comedy The Comeback, starring Lisa Kudrow; the NBC drama Studio 60; and the Showtime comedy United States of Tara. She has recently completed casting the pilot CULT for the CW network, and is currently casting the ABC drama Revenge, among other projects.

Barnes is the third of four guest scholars brought to campus this year by the McIlroy Family Visiting Professorship in Performing and Visual Arts endowment. Other McIlroy Professors include Tony Award-nominated writer and director Moisés Kaufman who was here in November and master of stage combat Bret Yount who was on campus in January. Actor and playwright Larry Luckinbill is scheduled to visit in June.