“Disney Kids & Family Discovers Voice Talent Search” – a nationwide search for voice actors focused on the art of animation – has selected Bennett Morgan, Daniel Zamora, Kai An Chee, Kristina Mueller, Luke Alphonso, Mark Douglas S., Nadia Vazquez, Neptune of Earth, Parker Paige and Varyssa Henderson to participate in the inaugural program (which was formerly announced as Disney Branded Television Discovers Voice Talent Search). The program is designed to provide hands-on experience in animation voice performance, character development and collaborative storytelling.

Selected from more than 7,500 submissions nationwide, these 10 performers will participate in a free, weeklong workshop this July at the legendary Disney Television Animation studio in Glendale, California. There, they will learn from and work alongside experienced Disney Kids & Family casting and creative executives and, at the end of the week, participate in the creation of original character shorts that will debut on Disney platforms.

The participants come from across the United States – from Houston and Durham to Seattle and New York – with backgrounds spanning musical theater, improv, audio drama, film and video games. They were selected through a multi-stage review process led by Disney casting and creative teams. To view the selected voice actors’ headshots and bios, click here.

“After reviewing thousands of submissions, we were inspired by the incredible creativity, authenticity and range these performers brought to the process,” said Brenda Kelly Grant, senior vice president of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Kids & Family. “This inaugural group reflects the depth of emerging talent in the marketplace today, and we’re excited to invest in their growth, elevate their craft and provide unparalleled access to some of Disney’s most accomplished producers, creative executives and animation casting leaders.”

“The Disney creative team and I cannot wait to work with this group of exceptional performers to explore new, original characters in short form storytelling,” said Gino Guzzardo, vice president of Multiplatform Content at Disney Kids & Family. “Bringing together talent from such different backgrounds, disciplines and creative instincts will allow us to experiment across a variety of fun new characters and voices.”   

As with all official Disney casting searches, there is never a fee to audition or participate, and participation does not guarantee employment.