Texas Thespians State Festival Alum Shares Advice for Disney Auditions
Every year, tens of thousands of high school students who share a common passion for theatre attend events like the Texas Thespians State Festival to showcase their talents and cheer on their peers.
One of those former high school students is Caroline, a performer for Disney Cruise Line, who has been training in dance since she was three years old, studying styles from ballet and jazz to tap and contemporary. As she grew up, she discovered a love for acting in middle school, which opened an entirely new world of storytelling.
“Every class, rehearsal and performance strengthened my discipline, creativity and talent, all of which prepared me for the incredible opportunity to perform for Disney.”
Caroline attended a Disney workshop at the Texas Thespians State Festival, a moment she describes that she will never forget. She heard from the casting director about the heart behind his Disney experience, from his auditions to performing to moving up within the company. “In that moment,” she reminisced, “I knew, without a doubt, that this is where I was meant to be.”
After the workshop, Caroline was certain that her path was leading her toward Disney. Once she turned eighteen, she could finally audition for Disney. She attended two Character Performer auditions for Disney Cruise Line and described the environment as incredibly welcoming and a positive, encouraging space. “I realized that what truly prepared me wasn’t just my years of training, but the confidence I had in myself and the talents I can bring,” said Caroline. “When I received the offer, it felt like all the years of hard work and dreaming had finally come together.”
Once she landed the role, the rehearsal process took place in Toronto, where the team trained and prepared all the shows and offerings for Disney Cruise Line guests. Caroline worked closely with creative teams who guided her through choreography and storytelling, making sure each moment captured the Disney magic. By the end of rehearsals, Caroline felt proud and ready to share everything with guests.
Her favorite Disney Cruise Line memory was when her parents came onboard to see her perform. Growing up, Caroline and her mom loved “Frozen” and would watch the film repeatedly. When she found out that “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular” is one of the musicals offered on the Disney Wonder, both Caroline and her mom were beyond excited. From the moment the music started, Caroline knew exactly where her mom was sitting in the audience, and she caught glimpses of her smiling and singing along. “During the finale, I found her in the crowd, and when our eyes met, she was crying. It was such a powerful, full-circle moment, realizing that I was performing in the very story that shaped so much of our love for Disney,” Caroline reflected.
The emotions felt during this experience has surprised Caroline the most about working for Disney Cruise Line. While she knew performing for Disney would be exciting, she did not realize how deeply it would affect her to see the magic through guests’ eyes. Watching families experience pure joy reminded Caroline why she fell in love with performing in the first place.
“Performing for Disney has helped me grow more than I ever expected. I’ve learned how to be professional, adaptable, and steady dealing with the demands of a fast-paced environment. I’ve also learned to take on new challenges with confidence and look at every performance as a chance to grow. Most of all, Disney has shown me how meaningful live entertainment can be.”
One of the most challenging parts of Caroline’s role is maintaining the energy and consistency it takes to perform at such a high level every single day. Life onboard can be busy, and every show demands full focus and heart. When Caroline is performing and sees the audience smiling, laughing and immersed in the magic, every ounce of effort is worth it for her. “Knowing that I get to help create memories that guests will carry with them long after they leave is the greatest reward of all,” she expressed.
When it comes to auditioning, Caroline shared her best advice, “At a Disney audition, focus on showcasing what you have to bring. The casting team wants to see you–your energy, your talents and your love for performing. When you lead with that, everything else naturally falls into place.”
“For those attending Texas Thespians,” she added, “take in every opportunity to learn and listen to the stories the casting director shares, as those moments are what truly inspired me.”
Texas Thespians State Festival is an environment that can serve as an inflection point to inspire students to continue in pursuit of their passion for performing. According to Stephen, Senior Manager, Talent Casting Strategy & Integration, “It’s important that Disney, and the wide range of professional opportunities onstage and off, are presented as a very real possibility for students to continue to tell stories in a meaningful way. For many, you must see it to believe it, which is why we love to map out the pathway for these young artists at events like this.”
When building a pipeline of talent at events like Texas Thespians, the Disney team is looking for energy and potential. “During our audition workshops, we look for students who bring their full selves to the experience, making interesting choices and showcasing their creativity in the process,” explained Stephen. “It’s our goal that these students step away with a better understanding of what they might encounter during a Disney audition and the many different ways they can pursue a career with Disney after high school.”
Are you interested in learning more about future Disney Auditions opportunities? Check out DisneyAuditions.com to view upcoming auditions, sign up for email updates, find the answers to your frequently asked questions and more!
