Disney Kids & Family has announced the first group of performers selected for its Disney Kids & Family Discovers Voice Talent Search, a new initiative designed to develop emerging voice actors for animation.

New Voice Talents Named for Disney Short-Form Projects

According to Deadline, the inaugural class was chosen from more than 7,500 submissions nationwide following a multi-stage review process by Disney casting and creative executives.

The program will bring the selected performers to Disney Television Animation’s studios in Glendale, California, for a free, weeklong workshop. Participants will receive hands-on experience in voice performance, character development, and collaborative storytelling. Disney noted that participation in the program does not guarantee future employment with the company.

Brenda Kelly Grant, senior vice president of Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Kids & Family, honored the inaugural group, saying:

“After reviewing thousands of submissions, we were inspired by the incredible creativity, authenticity and range these performers brought to the process. 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.”

Gino Guzzardo, vice president of Multiplatform Content at Disney Kids & Family, added:

“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. 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.”   

The 10 winning participants are Bennett Morgan, Daniel Zamora, Kai An Chee, Kristina Mueller, Luke Alphonso, Mark Douglas S., Nadia Vazquez, Neptune of Earth, Parker Paige, and Varyssa Henderson. All ten performers come from a variety of backgrounds in musical theater, improv, audio drama, film, video games, and stage work.

• Bennett Morgan — he/him: Morgan holds an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA and has voiceover experience through the animated YouTube series History Abridged.
• Daniel Zamora — he/him: is a Filipino American actor from Houston, Texas. He studied Digital Media and Theatre, then spent several years developing his comedy and performance skills through improv training in Chicago.
• Kai An Chee — she/her: Chee is a Malaysian Chinese actor based in New York. Her stage credits include the Broadway national tour of Miss Saigon, and her voice work includes Netflix’s Grand Army.
• Kristina Mueller — she/her: Mueller is an actress and voiceover artist who is fluent in English and German. She is an alumna of NYU/Tisch and RADA, and her credits include the Netflix animated feature Seal Team.
• Luke Alphonso — he/him: Alphonso is originally from Louisiana and is now based in Colorado, citing Futurama and Samurai Jack as some of his greatest creative inspirations.
• Mark Douglas S. — he/him: Douglas has been featured in multiple video games, Webtoon comics, audio dramas, and the podcast Leastwatch.
• Nadia Vazquez — she/her: Vazquez is an actor, singer, writer, and improviser. She trained at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and The Groundlings, with video game voice credits including GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and Shadowverse.
• Neptune of Earth — he/they: Neptune of Earth, with a background in musical theater, has performed multiple roles in Hamilton and appeared on Broadway in Motown the Musical.
• Parker Paige — they/she: Paige has been professionally pursuing acting since age 14, with experience in short films and a deep passion for cosplay and acting.
• Varyssa Henderson — she/her: Henderson is a Durham, North Carolina-born performer and lifelong Disney fan. Her credits include Beehive: The 60’s Musical, The Wiz, and Once on This Island.

The talent search was first announced earlier this year under the Disney Branded Television name. Disney Branded Television was recently renamed Disney Kids & Family, with the company stating the new name better reflects the audience and programming focus of the division, which creates content for Disney Channel, Disney Jr., Disney+, and other platforms.

Are you familiar with any of the inaugural ten performers or their work? Let us know on social media.

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