O U R T E A M
O U R T E A M
PHOTO BY YELLOWBELLY
CLAIRE BURKE, CSA
PARTNER, CASTING DIRECTOR
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2017
HOMETOWN: IRVINGTON, NY
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Claire Burke is a graduate of NYU Tisch where she studied acting at the Atlantic Theatre Company and minored in Irish Studies. She began working at Tara Rubin Casting in 2013. Prior to Casting, Claire was a founding member of the Mad & Merry Theatre Company and worked with Irish Arts Center and Brooklyn Bowl. Claire is an Artios Award winner. Outside of TRC she loves traveling and spending weekends with her husband and two cats.
KEVIN METZGER-TIMSON, CSA
PARTNER, CASTING DIRECTOR
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2020
HOMETOWN: ORANGE COUNTY, CA
Kevin Metzger-Timson (he/him) moved to New York City in 2005 to attend New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he earned his BFA in Drama. He is also an alum of the Musical Theatre Conservatory at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA, and Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI. A six-time Artios Award nominee, he has won twice. Kevin lives on the Upper West Side with his husband and dog, Tobias Wagg.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL HULL
XAVIER RUBIANO, CSA
PARTNER, CASTING DIRECTOR
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2018
HOMETOWN: JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS, NY
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Xavier Rubiano (he/him) began his casting career in 2011. A proud New Yorker and first-generation Colombian American, he studied Dance and Musical Theater at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and earned a BFA in Musical Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Xavier has received five Artios nominations and won the 2025 Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting of a Broadway Musical for The Outsiders, as well as the 2022 Artios Associate Spotlight Award.
PETER VAN DAM, CSA
PARTNER, CASTING DIRECTOR
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2018
HOMETOWN: PORTLAND, MAINE
Peter (he/him) is the recipient of four Artios Awards for excellence in casting. He joined Tara Rubin Casting in 2018 after working as a casting associate at Jim Carnahan Casting/Roundabout Theatre Company. In his early career, Peter worked in the talent department at Innovative Artists, and as assistant to director Lonny Price. He studied at Walnut Hill School for the Arts and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and holds a BFA in theatre from The Boston Conservatory. He enjoys teaching classes and workshops at colleges and studios across the country. He is a proud member of CSA and has served as a Tony Awards voter.
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TARA RUBIN, CSA
CASTING DIRECTOR - FOUNDER, TARA RUBIN CASTING
CSA MEMBER FOR A VERY LONG TIME
HOMETOWN: VANDALIA, ILLINOIS
Tara began her career in casting at Johnson-Liff Casting and created Tara Rubin Casting in 2001. She is an honors graduate of Boston University and proud member of Teamsters Local 817. In 2021 she received the Casting Society's Hoyt Bowers Award for Excellence in Casting. She serves on committees at the Entertainment Fund and the Noël Coward Foundation.
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Merri began casting in LA where she was an executive at Dreamworks Studios and ABC/Touchstone before returning to NY and Tara Rubin Casting. She earned her BFA in Musical Theater from Emerson College, later acting in shows such as Les Miserables and Aspects of Love. She was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Emerson in 2021. Merri is an Artios Award winner and a proud member of Big Sisters of America.
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MERRI SUGARMAN, CSA
CASTING DIRECTOR
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2006
HOMETOWN: FREEHOLD, NJ
LOUIS DIPAOLO, CSA
CASTING ASSOCIATE
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2024
HOMETOWN: VALLEY STREAM/MT.SINAI, NY
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Louis DiPaolo (he/him) began his casting career in 2016. A Long Island native, he studied and earned a BA in Communication from SUNY Geneseo. Prior to TRC, Louis worked at Roundabout Theatre Company/Jim Carnahan Casting and at Lauren Singer Talent. When Louis isn't at the theatre, he can be found gallivanting out in nature. In 2022, Louis spent five months hiking over 2,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail.
SPENCER GUALDONI, CSA
CASTING ASSOCIATE
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2023
HOMETOWN: HERRIN, IL
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Spencer Gualdoni (he/him) began his casting career in 2016. Originally from Southern Illinois, Spencer received his Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater from Oklahoma City University and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Arts Administration at OCU. Spencer has been nominated for three Artios Awards and is dedicated to helping aspiring artists develop their craft, enabling them to enter the challenging and exciting performance industry.
OLIVIA PAIGE WEST, CSA
CASTING ASSOCIATE
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2024
HOMETOWN: MOORESTOWN, NJ
Olivia Paige West (she/her) began her casting journey in 2017. She originates from New Jersey and holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Rowan University. She is nominated for an Artios Award for her work in casting. She is passionate about helping young artists navigate the industry post grad. Olivia aspires to create casts that are representative of the world we see today.
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FRANKIE RAMIREZ, CSA
CASTING ASSOCIATE
CSA MEMBER SINCE 2023
HOMETOWN: FORT COLLINS, CO
Frankie transitioned from a career as a Music Director and Musician to a career in Casting when he joined NBCUniversal in 2016. There, he contributed to the casting of over 60 series and pilots, including Good Girls, SNL, Young Rock, and the Law & Order franchise. A Musical Theatre and Musical Theatre Accompanying graduate from Shenandoah Conservatory, Frankie is driven by his tenacity for discovering new artists and his passion for championing historically excluded communities.
PHOTO BY YELLOWBELLY