2014 HSCHS alum lands TV role

2014 graduate of Hot Springs County High School, Tori Anderson, will soon be seen on the small screen, having been cast in the new ABC television series, “Downward Dog.”

Anderson is currently attending college at the University of Pittsburgh after transferring from the University of Wyoming. She is handling a double major, one in theatre and one in English writing, all while rehearsing for the school’s fall production as well as filming for the television show.

Anderson said, “I realized the incredible amount of opportunities it (University of Pittsburgh) held when I was here summer before last and wanted to take advantage of everything Pittsburgh had to offer.

“University of Pittsburgh has rolling admissions and a great theatre program, so it was an easy choice.” The fall production at the university is “Hair” and Anderson will be performing in the ensemble for the play. Previously, she portrayed Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the grocer woman in Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros.”

So how does a girl from a small town in Wyoming find herself in a television series? Anderson said she was contacted by a talent agency she had worked with a couple of summers ago.

“I received a text saying they were interested in me for the part and asked if I was alright throwing my name in the ring,” she said. “There really wasn’t an audition process. They asked me to send them current pictures. They were searching for a certain look that they described as ‘hip and trendy’.”

Anderson couldn’t give details about the character she’ll play in “Downward Dog” due to confidentiality agreements in her contract. However, she did say filming has been going amazingly well and its “super nice to be able to roll out of bed and head to hair and makeup without having to deal with it myself.”

“Honestly, the whole thing has been an amazing experience,” she said. “I think the best thing so far is how amazing everyone is at their job. It gives a real feel for what goes into a television production, both on and off screen.

“Working with everyone has just been such a pleasure. Its very long hours, but everybody works together to get the best product and its absolutely fantastic.”

The show will premier on ABC sometime in early 2017.