Auditioning for Tokyo Disneyland on Saturday

[Zen Coaster]

On Saturday my local capital city has auditions for singers, dancers, prince/princess lookalikes for Tokyo Disneyland.

 

I'll be going for a prince/hero lookalike role. Apparently, we have to 'resemble the Characters in look, height, and personality; have a positive attitude and good speaking voice.' and that we 'will be put through a movement combination as a part of the audition'.

 

I'm not quite sure which character I look like (though my friend Lauren says Snow White or Cinderella's prince) but I'm really tall anyway and have a good voice/attitude/etc so that should pay off.

 

Haven't auditioned for a theme park cast member before, let alone Disney. Has anyone been or know of what goes on? Any clues on the movement pattern?

 

I'm not asking anyone to share anything that they've signed they won't share however. But any tips on preparation/how to conduct myself would be greatly appreciated.

 

Who knows, the Disneyland part of the Japan trip might turn into Expedition Tony

[gr8LAboy]

Hey..

 

Long time lurker..first time poster. Had to respond to this one as I once "smiled and waved" for a living at TDR.

 

The "face" audition (as they call it) is a little different than a normal auditon. They first take all the auditonees, give them numbers, (and usually there are many) and divide up the boys from the girls and line them up in groups of 10-20.

 

Next they take the lines into a large room and call up the lines one by one. There the whole line "faces the judges". They analyze your face and may ask you a few questions as you stand there in line with everyone else .This is usually the most nerve wracking part of the auditon, even though you are just standing there. They make notes on how you look, hold yourself, etc.

 

Next comes first cut. They call out the numbers of the people they would like to see more of and politely dismiss the others.

 

If you made it through first cut, you now get to dance. The combination is often to a disney parade song (as part of yoru duties as a Prince will be to dance in the shows and parades). The combination is usually fairly simple and represtentative of the dance in the shows. Just make sure to smile..VERY IMPORTANT.

 

Second cut after that. They call out who they want to keep and then politely dismiss the rest.

 

If you are fortunate enough to get kept this far, you are taken away to have mesurements taken. The measure every inch of your body and for the women and some of the guys (who they are looking at for Aladdin..etc) its wig and polaroid time.

 

At this point they could ask you to come back and watch an orientation video about the TDR etc.

 

Thats pretty much it. Be prepared for a looong day. Bring snacks..dont smoke etc.

 

Break a leg..My years at TDR were the best ever.

[SharkTums]

I have a question...

 

Do you have to lose your Aussie accent? I know when we interacted with some of the face characters at Tokyo Disney, they had NO accents at all even though some were American, some were British, and I'm sure some were Australian.

 

I don't think Prince Charming should be firing up a shrimp on the barbie!

[ebl]

^ Well, that depends...

 

Eric

[Zen Coaster]

Thanks to everyone who has posted so far.

 

I would assume that we'd need to demonstrate, at the very least, an ability in GenAm (non-region-specific American accent). Doubt we would have to sound European. But yeah, I don't think the Aussie accent would cut it somehow! I'm not bad... something I will be able to get really good at.

 

I think a Prince Croc Hunter would be hilarious though

 

Does anybody have good links to such park shows/parades so I could look at the movements before the day? I think I have some on my Magic Kingdom '05 footage but would have to see.

 

-- Tony "Throw another hor d'oeuvre on the barbie, my good man!" Teulan

[rabid disney]

I have a question...

 

Do you have to lose your Aussie accent? I know when we interacted with some of the face characters at Tokyo Disney, they had NO accents at all even though some were American, some were British, and I'm sure some were Australian.

 

I don't think Prince Charming should be firing up a shrimp on the barbie!

 

Definely

 

At my work Warner Bros. Movie World all the characters must sound similar to there character. eg Batman and co, Scooby Gang ect.

[gr8LAboy]

TDR is a completely different animal. While yes, it may be preferred to have standard american "sound alikes" it isnt as scrutinized in Japan as it would be in the US.

 

Then again...I've heard many an Aladdin at Disneyland who seemed to have flown to Anaheim from Agrabah, MEXICO.

 

Heck, most of the "Prince-types" get to play "The Wacky Chimney Sweep from Mary Poppins" as well. Even tho you are an Aussie..they will think you stepped right out of London

[Zen Coaster]

It's funny because it's true... lost count of the number of times in the USA that Mum and I have been asked if we're British. Being Bert would be awesome, I'm such a longtime Mary Poppins fan. I could give it that Aussie twist.

 

CHIM-CHIMINEY CHIM-CHIMINEY CHIM-CHIM-CRIKEY!

A SWEEP IS AS BONZA AS BONZA CAN BE

CHIM-CHIMINEY CHIM-CHIMINEY CHIM-CHIM KANGAROO!

GOOD LUCK SHALL A-FALL WHEN I DRINK BEER WITH YOU...

 

[the sound]

I have a question...

 

Do you have to lose your Aussie accent? I know when we interacted with some of the face characters at Tokyo Disney, they had NO accents at all even though some were American, some were British, and I'm sure some were Australian.

 

I don't think Prince Charming should be firing up a shrimp on the barbie!

 

You'd be quite surprised at how unAustralian most people in the cities of the East Coast sound, well at least UnAustralian as a comparison to what the rest of the world thinks we sound like. But in Darwin...

 

 

But anyway, good luck Tony. Hope your audition goes well!

[crazyrider06]

Good luck tony, hope your audition goes well!