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Wheaton casting director can spot 'it' factor

Ta'Rhonda Jones, a Chicago rapper with no professional acting experience, came in to Simon Casting hoping to get a small role on the hit TV show "Empire."

But when casting company owner and Wheaton resident Claire Simon met Jones, she immediately eyed her for something much bigger. Simon had her audition for the co-starring role of Porsha, Cookie's sassy assistant on "Empire."

Jones was such a perfect fit, Simon could hardly contain herself.

"It was like fireworks going off. She was Porsha," Simon said. "I could hardly wait for her to finish the audition so I could call (Empire co-creator) Lee Daniels to say 'We found her.'"

Jones got the part on the hit Fox show, an example of Simon's gift for matching the right person with the right role. It's why Hollywood directors and producers have sought her expertise for almost two decades when casting TV shows, movies and commercials.

Simon has helped actors land roles in dozens of TV shows, especially those filmed locally, such as "Chicago Fire," "Empire" and "Chicago PD," plus stage productions like "Million Dollar Quartet" and movies like "Divergent," "Save the Last Dance" and "High Fidelity."

The walls of Simon's North side office are lined with framed posters, many autographed, of the well-known movies and TV shows she's been involved with.

"I get a lot of people sending me messages on Facebook saying, 'PLEASE!' And someone always has a nephew, son, child or baby sitter who can sing," she said. "People want to be part of what you're doing ... they want to be on TV."

Simon grew up in Deerfield with two siblings who, like her, also became entrepreneurs. Her brother, Jim, created the all-natural nutrition bar, JiMMYBAR!, and her sister, Annette, owns the Lincoln Park Italian restaurant Filippo's.

As a kid, Simon used to cast neighborhood kids in plays they performed in her family's garage. But she really caught the acting bug while seeing plays downtown with her "fabulous artsy aunts."

After graduating from Augustana College in Rock Island, Simon started working as an actress. To pay the bills, she waited tables and worked at ad agencies. It was a difficult time, she said, and she started questioning what to do with her life. Then one day, while watching "The Oprah Winfrey Show," she saw a guest who encouraged people who are struggling to "Give it up to God."

"I couldn't understand why God would give me a passion for something and make it so hard," Simon said. "So I said, right there, 'I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna give it up to God.' And two weeks later, I was pregnant."

Becoming a mother helped Simon put her career in perspective, and made her realize she'd be better off on the other end of the casting process.

"I was so tired of waiting for people to choose me. So I started working as a talent agent and I loved that. Loved that," she said. "I was always the No. 1 cheerleader. I was telling people 'Don't give up on yourself! Don't let it destroy you!' It was easier for me to pitch someone else than myself."

In 1996, a colleague named Cheri Mann asked Simon to be a partner in her casting business. Mann was dying of cancer. Her business was her life's work and she wanted it to carry on.

"What she gave me was such an amazing gift," Simon said, still getting goose bumps thinking about it 19 years later. "I was so clearly aware of how much it meant to her. She brought me in and let me move it forward."

After Mann died, Simon expanded the business to include more TV, movie and theater casting.

Knowing firsthand how tough the business can be, Simon has the words "WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE" in big letters on the wall next to her casting office's reception desk.

Petite, humble and good-humored, Simon doesn't like to call herself a "star maker." More like a matchmaker. Her job satisfaction doesn't necessarily come from casting big roles, but seeing actors grow, or get their big breaks, including "Empire" star Grace Gealey, who plays Anika.

"It's always great to see someone with that special 'it' thing,'" Simon said. "Sometimes, someone walks in your door and you say, 'Oh my God, that person is a star.'"

Later this summer, Simon will move her business to Cinespace on Chicago's West Side ("where everything is produced"). She also plans to amp up her company's charity work in the community, with more food and blood drives.

Since her whole family is in Chicago - and there's plenty of work here - Simon feels no need to move to Los Angeles.

"Chicago's home," she said. "I'm sorta living my dream right now."

- Jamie Sotonoff

• Dann Gire and Jamie Sotonoff are always looking for people from the suburbs who are now working in showbiz. If you know of someone who'd make an interesting feature, email them at dgire@dailyherald.com and jsotonoff@dailyherald.com.

Grace Gealey, left, and Ta'Rhonda Jones both got their roles in the Fox hit "Empire" through casting director Claire Simon of Wheaton. Courtesy of Fox

How to get cast in movies and TV shows

Casting company owner Claire Simon of Wheaton offered a few tips to aspiring actors who want to work on commercials, stage, movies and TV:

• Have an idea of the project. Being well-prepared is key.

• Get an agent. Agents get notices about every acting job that's casting in Chicago. All serious actors have one.

• Understand the process, and realize that you're going to get rejected and have off days. It's OK, and normal, to get discouraged.

• Be positive, and don't have a me-against-them attitude. The people in the audition room want you to be great.

• If you want to submit a headshot and resume to Simon Casting, you can send it to <a href="mailto:simoncastingauditions%40gmail.com?subject=">simoncastingauditions@gmail.com</a>. For more casting advice, read Claire Simon's blog at <a href="http://simoncasting.com/fun-stuff/casting-advice">http://simoncasting.com/fun-stuff/casting-advice</a>.

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