The Casting Society of America (CSA) 30th annual Artios Awards took place on January 22nd, 2015, for outstanding achievement in casting. CSA "turned 30 on two coasts which means next year she’ll be uncastable", humored Michael Urie, New York host at the 42West—formerly XL Nightclub. On the West Coast, the ceremony honoring film, television, and theater’s most notable casting directors in Los Angeles, was hosted by Patton Oswalt.

Michael Urie NYC Host

Billy Magnussen actor and NY presenter spoke out "casting directors took care of me when I first moved to the city. I’m blessed with the opportunities".

Billy Magnussen

Anna Sophia Rob considers casting directors important, "first step of a long process". Christine Baranski notes that casting directors are special "I'm not the pretty, young, leading role type and CDs took me along. CDs can see something that makes a difference."

This year the ceremony honored Casting Directors with projects released over the last 18 months, after the CSA moved its date from November.

The evening recognized “Boyhood” director Richard Linklater with the Career Achievement Award, which he accepted in Los Angeles. Also on the west coast, Ellen Lewis was presented with the Hoyt Bowers Award. Martin Scorsese, for whom she cast “Goodfellas,” did a video dedication to the Casting director, screened in NYC.

New York Apple Award for special contributions to New York’s entertainment Industry went to Rob Marshall. Presenting the award was Christine Baranski (who played the wicked stepmother in Mr. Marshall’s latest film “Into the Woods”). "When some of the actors heard I had been cast as a presenter, some of them suddenly became available not just to put themselves on tape, but to show up", Ms. Baranski spoke before a surprise number. Tracey Ullman and Meryl Streep joined the stage and performed a musical homage. Meryl Streep sang "I wish that girls would play their age; I wish that age were Russell Crowe’s; I wish directors were all Rob. I wish a lot of things". The ensemble continued singing “work with Rob and John and you will see; Actors who will slave and work for free. Sometimes people cast you, just because you’re good; Other times they cast you when no one thought they should".

Christine Baranski, Tracey Ullman, Meryl Streep

Here is the winners list of the 30th Artios Awards - January 22, 2015:

Feature Film Big-Budget Comedy

“The Wolf of Wall Street,” Ellen Lewis

Feature Film Big-Budget Drama

“12 Years a Slave,” Francine Maisler, Meagan Lewis (Location Casting), Melissa Kostenbauder (Associate)

Feature Film Studio or Independent Comedy

“The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Douglas Aibel, Jina Jay, Henry Russell Bergstein (Associate)

Feature Film Studio or Independent Drama

“Dallas Buyers Club,” Kerry Barden, Paul Schnee, Rich Delia, Tracy Kilpatrick (Location Casting), Allison Estrin (Associate)

Feature Film Low-Budget Comedy

“Dear White People,” Kim Taylor-Coleman

Feature Film Low-Budget Drama

“Boyhood,” Beth Sepko

Feature Film Animation

“Frozen,” Jamie Sparer Roberts

Television Pilot Comedy

“Orange Is the New Black,” Jennifer Euston

Television Pilot Drama

“True Detective,” Alexa L. Fogel, Christine Kromer, Meagan Lewis (Location Casting)

Television Series Comedy

“Orange Is the New Black,” Jennifer Euston

Television Series Drama

“Breaking Bad,” Sharon Bialy, Sherry Thomas, Kiira Arai (Location Casting), Russell Scott (Associate)

Television Movie or Miniseries

“Fargo,” Rachel Tenner, Jackie Lind (Location Casting), Stephanie Gorin (Location Casting), Charlene Lee (Associate)

Daytime Drama Series

“General Hospital,” Mark Teschner

Children’s Pilot and Series (Live Action)

“Good Luck Charlie,” Sally Stiner, Barbie Block

Television Animation (Children and Adult)

“Family Guy,” Linda Lamontagne

Web Series

“Deadbeat,” Adam Caldwell, Cindy Tolan

Short Film

“All’s Fair,” Alyssa Weisberg

New York Broadway Theater – Comedy

“Casa Valentina,” David Caparelliotis, Nancy Piccione, Bernard Telsey

New York Broadway Theater – Drama

“All the Way,” William Cantler, Karyn Casl (Associate)

New York Broadway Theater – Musical

“Beautiful – The Carole King Musical,” Stephen Kopel

New York Theater – Comedy

“Dinner With Friends,” Jim Carnahan, Carrie Gardner

New York Theater – Drama

“Choir Boy,” Nancy Piccione

New York Theater – Musical

“Here Lies Love,” Tara Rubin, Lindsay Levine (Associate)

Regional Theater East

“A Streetcar Named Desire,” Tara Rubin, Lindsay Levine (Associate)

Regional Theater West

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” David Caparelliotis, Lauren Port (Associate)

Los Angeles Theater

“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Mark B. Simon, Daniel Swee

Special Theatrical Performance East

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, A Musical Thriller,” Craig Burns, Cesar A. Rocha (Associate)

Theater Tours

“Once,” Jim Carnahan, Stephen Kopel

-by Lia Fietz-