Alumni Spotlight Details

After graduating from Indiana University Bloomington in 2013 with a degree in theatre, Rachel Goldman '09 launched a dynamic career in casting. Based in New York City, she has spent the past twelve years casting for film and television, most recently leading her own casting business. Her recent projects include numerous independent films and Goosebumps Season 2 for Disney+. In addition to her casting work, Rachel teaches an acting course each semester at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She married her wife, Melanie, in 2021, and the couple is expecting their first child in December 2025.

Describe how Whitfield prepared you for college and beyond.

Whitfield has an incredible ability to nurture each student’s individual interests in a way I haven’t experienced anywhere else. I always felt seen, heard, and supported — not just because of the small class sizes, but because of the genuine care and attention from the teachers and coaches. They took the time to really get to know me, and that made a lasting impact.  Additionally, the format of the classes at Whitfield – often more Socratic in nature – gave me the confidence to engage in thoughtful, sometimes challenging conversations, which became a significant asset in nearly every course I took in college.

Due to Whitfield’s English classes and my experience with Yearbook and Theatre, I entered college feeling confident in my writing. I even took multiple screenwriting and playwriting courses, eager to scratch that writing itch. Beyond that, college requires you to balance all sorts of responsibilities, and I think the amount of extracurricular activities that Whitfield gave me a chance to explore helped me develop strong time management skills.  Juggling my many different commitments in high school taught me how to prioritize, stay organized, and still make space for creativity.

What opportunities did Whitfield provide you that you might not have had elsewhere?

Whitfield gave me the chance to explore a wide range of extracurriculars, which ultimately helped me discover my passions. Sure, I didn’t end up becoming a basketball player — both height-wise and skill-wise, that was never really in the cards — but when I left the team to join play rehearsals, I realized how much I loved theatre. That decision changed everything. I went on to major in it in college, and it’s still a huge part of my life today as I live in New York and work in the entertainment industry.

What are some of your favorite Whitfield memories?

I joined the yearbook staff my sophomore year — not because I was a particularly skilled photographer or writer, but because a lot of my friends were doing it, and the yearbook advisor was my English teacher at the time, so I fit right in.  While theatre and the school plays were my first love, Yearbook quickly became a close second. One of my favorite parts was traveling to journalism conventions with our editing team. Whitfield took us to Colorado and California for those conventions, which was such an incredible opportunity as a high schooler. Looking back, I’m so grateful the school made experiences like that possible.

What were some of your favorite classes at Whitfield? Why?

I always loved English class.  I’m sure it was primarily because I always adored the English teachers, but I tend to be very creative-minded. Classes like English, theatre, and choir were the ones I looked forward to most. I loved choir so much that I woke up for something called “morning choir” three times a week since I couldn’t fit it into my regular class schedule. Not sure whose idea it was to have kids singing at 7 am, but it couldn’t have sounded very good! I loved it anyway, even through all the yawning.

What were your primary interests and activities while you were at Whitfield?

I was in the Thespian troupe, all the plays and musicals, and served as an editor on the yearbook staff. 

What advice do you have for alumni, young or seasoned, who are interested in your field?

The entertainment industry as a whole is a tough field to go into, but usually, we go into it because it’s the only thing in the world we can see ourselves doing. I think that sort of tenacity and passion is essential in any arts field. There will be countless “no’s” along the way, but 5% of the time, you’ll get a “yes”. Those are the moments to hold onto fiercely. Everything else has to be water under the bridge or you’ll never get through it. I’ve had so many projects pass on using me based on experience, or clout, but the people who hire me are the ones I make sure to stay loyal to and try to impress. There’s nothing better than getting a call from a producer I’ve worked with before, asking me to cast their next film because I’m someone they trust and want to continue working with. Loyalty in this industry is rare, but, to me, it’s the single most important quality — and I bring that to every project I cast.

Describe your career.

I’m a casting director based in New York City, working primarily in film and TV. I’ve been doing this for twelve years now, and I feel incredibly lucky to get to do my dream job every day. Obviously, not every moment is perfect, but I’d say about 80% of it is — and that’s a pretty great percentage!

I always knew I wanted a career in the arts. After majoring in theatre (acting) in college, I moved to New York City for a casting internship in a theatre office. Within just a few weeks, I realized that being in front of the camera or onstage wasn’t for me.  This was partly because I saw how arbitrary and shallow casting decisions could be, but mostly because I loved the idea of discovering talented people and connecting them with directors who thought the same.

After two months as an intern, I was hired full-time as a casting assistant and worked there for about two years. I started to feel burned out by theatre casting — I think I cast seven productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream during that time, and I desperately needed a change! So, I made the jump to film and TV, joining an office called Barden/Schnee Casting. I spent eight years there, progressing from assistant to associate casting director. It’s a wonderful office, and I still collaborate with them on projects like Palm Royale for AppleTV and School Spirits for Paramount+.

In 2023, I started my own casting business, becoming the casting director for many independent films as well as Goosebumps Season 2 for Disney+. I also teach an acting course at NYU Tisch School of the Arts every semester, which is a great way for me to get to know up-and-coming talent.  The industry is always changing, so I’m not exactly sure what’s next, but my goal is to keep nurturing the relationships I’ve built and continue having fun doing what I love.