Unscripted and Immersive Acting Audition Workshop

Are you an artist looking to sharpen your skills in unscripted and immersive theater? Are you an actor or actress with no experience in this growing expression but are looking for resources on how to audition with confidence?

Join A4 and the Disney Talent Casting team for an interactive experience centered on the global performance opportunities available with Disney Live Entertainment.

For the first time, we are hosting an unscripted actor workshop designed for both experienced performers and those new to the craft. We welcome highly skilled, versatile actors with backgrounds in improvisation, sketch comedy, and musical theatre, as well as first-timers eager to explore and learn. Participants will explore the art of immersive performance within a repertory-style storytelling environment, where classic Disney stories are brought to life in unexpected and captivating ways. Emphasis is placed on collaboration, adaptability, and creating meaningful guest connections that add fresh, dynamic layers to beloved tales.

We’ll open the evening with a brief overview of Disney Live Entertainment performance opportunities and auditioning best practices. Next, the team will lead mock unscripted auditions with select participants, offering a rare opportunity to observe the audition process up close, followed by a brief Q&A.

Please find the agenda and more information below.

The event is FREE and open to the public, but RSVP is required to hold your space. You do not need to audition in order to join the workshop.

Agenda:

• Disney Live Entertainment overview
• Tenants & Philosophies / Expectations & Warmups
• Unscripted Exercises & Coaching
• Debrief

To apply, please RSVP and fill out the separate form linked in the event registration.

Accessibility: The main entrance to Pearl Studios is wheelchair-accessible. It has gendered restrooms. If you need ASL interpretation, large print, or any other accommodations for this event, please email programs@aaartsalliance.org at least two weeks before the event.

DISNEY CASTING TEAM BIOS

Jennifer Bascom is a Creative Director for Disney Live Entertainment with Disney Signature Experiences. Her immersive writing and directing has taken her around the globe, across the sea, and even to a galaxy far, far away. Favorites include Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, Disney Cruise Line, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., Second City Theatricals, Disney Television Discovers Talent, ComedySportzLA, the Bezark Company, Disneyland Paris, and Lineage Performing Arts Center.

Jennifer has written and appeared on television programs including True Beauty, Comedy IQ with Wayne Brady, World Cup Comedy, Attack of the Show, U-Jokes, and the award-winning web-series Relation-Fix.

Other original works include: WBOO A Halloween Radio Show, head scriptwriter for NBCU/ Tic Toc games, and her screenplay A Christmas Letter which is currently in pre-production.

In addition to creative endeavors, Jen is a sought-after improv coach. Teaching engagements include Doha Film Festival in Qatar, ABC Writers Program, Walt Disney Imagineering, and as a consultant for multiple brands creating immersive in-store shopping experiences. In 2018, she was invited to present a TED Talk on how improv skills help break the addiction to being right.

Victor Farinas began his Disney career as a performer in 2010 before eventually cross training into the training team. During that time, Victor performed in a range of offerings, such as Festival of the Lion King, Festival of Fantasy, Block Party Bash, Fantasmic, and more. In 2018, Victor joined SeaWorld Orlando as the Supervisor of Entertainment during the opening of Sesame Street Land, leading the recruitment and casting process of dancers, characters, stilt walkers, dance captains, and assistant supervisors.

Returning to The Walt Disney Company in 2020 as a production representative at DCL, Victor contributed to the Triton project’s blue-sky development for new Walt Disney Theatre productions before accepting the newly created position of manager of entertainment operations with Virgin Voyages. In that role, Victor was involved in the casting and recruitment strategies for performance artists and entertainment leaders. Additionally, Victor oversaw audition tour planning and contracting processes before being promoted into the role of manager of fleet experience and continuous improvement.

Stephen Gelpi is the Senior Manager, Talent Casting Strategy & Integration for the global Talent Casting & Booking team of Disney Live Entertainment. He joined The Walt Disney Company in 2015 as a talent casting director supporting the identification of world-class talent for in-park entertainment offerings and resort-wide special events. Stephen has served as casting director for projects at the Disneyland Resort, the Walt Disney World Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort sites.

Prior to his time with The Walt Disney Company, Stephen was the Talent Operations Manager at SeaWorld San Diego where his primary responsibilities centered around the casting, training and daily operational support of the live entertainment team. He also served in various production roles supporting the creation and installation of shows and events including SeaWorld Spooktacular, Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation and the Seven Seas Food Festival.