How Casting Directors Populated Over 300 Characters for ‘The Pitt’: ‘If You Say One Scripted Word, That Was Us’

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Finding suitable actors for “The Pitt,” an HBO Max medical drama, was quite a challenge for casting directors Cathy Sandrich Gelfond and Erica Berger. With seven years of successful collaborations behind them on shows like “Mayor of Kingstown” and “Love & Death,” they were no strangers to assembling talented ensembles. However, “The Pitt” presented a unique challenge: it required a large cast of medical professionals and patients for its setting in the ER of a Pittsburgh hospital, and since the show unfolds in real-time, each actor needed to be available for every scene, even if they were not speaking.

In this production, the duo assigned more than 300 roles that weren’t just background parts. As Gelfond verified, “If you heard a single scripted line, that was us.” Berger added, “We even included individuals who couldn’t speak due to their conditions, but there were actions involved, so we cast them too.”

Or:

Over 300 roles in this project weren’t just for background actors. According to Gelfond, “If you heard a spoken line, that was our team.” Berger added, “We even had performers who couldn’t speak due to their conditions, but there were actions involved, so we included them as well.”

Or:

Gelfond and Berger assigned over 300 roles in this project that weren’t just for background actors. Gelfond confirmed, “If you heard a single spoken line, it was us.” Berger added, “We even cast individuals who couldn’t speak due to their conditions because there were actions involved.

I found myself drawn to Gelfond’s analogy of creating this world as if it were a stage production. Just as actors in a play are always present, even when not speaking, our goal was to populate this universe with characters that breathe life into it. In essence, we aimed to form a theatrical company that would embody and animate this realm. The stage setup served as a director’s dream, brimming with potential actors and scenes waiting to unfold.

Additionally, it was advantageous that the decision-makers – creator, showrunner, and executives R. Scott Gemmill, John Wells, and Noah Wyle himself – welcomed actors not yet established in the limelight.

Berger expresses that the team shares our enthusiasm about welcoming fresh faces they haven’t met before. He adds that such an opportunity is always thrilling, and it’s exciting for them too because it means they’ll get to meet many new people who are unknown to them.

Among the fresh cast members we find Shabana Azeez, who embodies Victoria Javadi, a 20-year-old medical student with parents who are doctors at the hospital. Gelfond mentions that they had never met her before. In a similar vein, Supriya Ganesh was unknown to us prior to her arrival; Berger hadn’t known her until she stepped through the door, portraying Dr. Samira Mohan, a medical resident.

A notable new find: Patrick Ball, who portrays Dr. Frank Langdon, a key figure to Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, the senior attending physician played by Wyle. Previously, his TV acting experience was limited to an episode of “Law & Order,” which aired in 2023.

Gelfond says Langdon was one of the toughest roles to fill; Ball was the last actor cast. 

She mentioned that he had graduated from Yale a couple of years ago and hadn’t achieved much, to which she added, “That’s the charm of auditioning; that’s why you do it. Since you can’t know everyone, you never know who might be hidden talents. I don’t prefer using the term ‘discoveries’ because they’ve been diligently working for all those years. What makes it exciting is finding roles that allow their true potential to emerge.

They also included established actors in significant parts, recalling Fiona Dourif for instance, portraying Dr. Cassie McKay – a solitary mother who sports a puzzling anklet suggesting a prior confrontation with legal troubles.

Berger expresses, “Over the years, I’ve encountered her in various productions and auditions. She’s one-of-a-kind and incredibly gifted, a true standout. Meeting her in person and discussing her character only fueled my excitement, much like a student who knows the answer to a question in class. I was overjoyed when she landed the role.

Wyle consistently participated throughout the casting process. As Gelfond explains, “Noah was always present during auditions, for nearly all of them, and he was just so considerate, kind, and respectful towards the actors.” Despite numerous further chemistry tests, there were no individual reading sessions. Katherine LaNasa, who portrays Dana Evans, the charge nurse, initially submitted a self-tape from Atlanta before having a video chat with the team. “Noah was there, and everyone was conversing, but there was never a private one-on-one session,” Gelfond continues. “They first met during the table read and instantly clicked.

In many instances, it was typical for actors portraying each other, like Mackenzie Astin and Rebecca Tilney, to enact intense emotional scenes as siblings struggling with the decision to resuscitate their ailing father. As Berger explains, “We usually cast people separately, and frequently their initial encounter took place on set.

When Berger discovered that patient Minu primarily spoke Nepalese, she found herself at a loss as to how to proceed. However, upon receiving a tape from Nepal sent by Arun Storrs, her confidence soared, remarking that it was “truly impressive.

One frequently discussed sequence features an actress, Enuka Okuma, portraying a character named Natalie who delivers a baby. The depiction is strikingly lifelike, causing some spectators to question whether a real-life pregnancy and childbirth were being filmed.

Gelfond chuckles and clarifies, ‘We didn’t take that action. Doing so would have been quite challenging for us!’

Instead, the illusion was achieved through the use of prosthetics, skilled puppeteers, and an exceptionally convincing portrayal by Okuma.

After observing numerous actors throughout my career, both individuals are direct about their requirements. As Gelfond puts it, “be honest” is essential when auditioning. “You can always sense the truth,” he adds.

During self-taping sessions, it’s important to not focus too much on the technical aspects. The goal is for us to see and hear your natural abilities. A plain background works well, but don’t let that be the main focus. Instead, think about the distinct traits that make this character uniquely you, and how you can bring those elements to life in your performance. Berger also emphasizes that a strong performance will stand out on its own merit.

Additionally, performers should understand that although they may not secure a particular role initially, their strong performances will be recalled later on. As Gelfond explains, “A well-executed audition is never wasted.” On occasions, we recall talented individuals from as many as six past projects and invite them to join our cast. It’s the exceptional ones that leave an indelible impression.

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2025-06-06 22:48