Puppet Specialist

Disney Cruise Line (DCL), a division of the Walt Disney Company, operates a six-ship fleet of premium class cruise liners and is the industry leader in family vacations at sea.  DCL Entertainment (Toronto) is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company Canada, and serves as the rehearsal headquarters for DCL’s award-winning theatrical productions.  Within a state-of-the-art entertainment rehearsal facility, DCL’s production teams pride themselves on creating memorable family entertainment that is both enchanting and magical --- delighting the young and young at heart with legendary Disney storytelling.

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and reporting to a DCL Resident Director, The Puppet Specialist provides training of puppetry and articulation skills including lip sync, blocking, movement, choreography, and expression for puppeteers on all styles for all shows within the DCL fleet.  They maintain original creative intent and ongoing show quality through partnerships with the DCL Creative Team and onboard Entertainment teams.

Responsibilities:

• Teach and direct all puppet and articulation skills, character development, staging and puppet choreography to both character and Mainstage performers involved in DCL productions – including but not limited to theatrical productions, deck parties, entertainment restaurants, theme nights, character programs and other Disney specific entertainment events and activities.
• Works in partnership with the Resident Director, Dance Supervisors and Character Managers on all puppet related issues – reporting creatively and operationally to the Resident Director.
• Collaborates and partners with a range of Disney professionals to include:

• WDW Puppet Masters and Puppet Specialists
• WDI Creative Directors
• DCL Resident Directors and WDE Show Directors
• Production Director, Manager and Supervisor
• Vocal Directors
• DCL Talent Casting
• Choreographers and Dance Supervisors
• Senior Technical Managers
• Stage Managers
• Character Managers

• Responsible for maintaining Disney creative standards, including but not limited to show quality, character integrity, and Disney standards of safety
• Responsible for providing notes to all puppeteers regarding onstage performance, and for communicating issues to Entertainment Operational Management and Creative partners.
• Partners with production teams in Toronto and shipboard technical teams to maintain puppets and make repairs onsite as necessary.  Assesses puppets that need to be sent out for repairs and partners with outside vendors and WDW specialists to maintain the puppet repertoire.
• Conducts/oversees workshops, auditions and rehearsals for puppeteers, and facilitates the puppetry portion of auditions, assisting the Casting Director with scoring candidates.
• Accountabilities include identifying and supporting target areas for Performer improvement, collaborating with appropriate partners regarding new product and ongoing show quality efforts.
• Provides puppeteer and puppet maintenance feedback and develops and maintains all puppetry direction and choreography documentation.
• Travels for cast crossovers and potential cast replacements depending on rehearsal schedule in Toronto and/ or operational need onboard
• Collaborates with the DCL Toronto team in the ongoing management of DCL rehearsals – including but not limited to:  strategic scheduling, room utilization, understudy rehearsals, BGA rehearsals, etc.
• Understands and supports all shoreside and shipboard policies and guidelines, with a clear understanding of being in a creative leadership role and the expectations required of such role.

Qualifications:

• Post-Secondary education in entertainment performance with puppeteering or equivalent in professional puppeteering experience is strongly preferred
• 7+ years of experience with hand and rod puppets.  Knowledge of Programmed Articulated puppets is an asset
• Puppet and puppet prop maintenance is an asset in maintaining creative quality
• Thorough understanding of Disney Character brand usage and how it interfaces with the DCL repertory theatre operation
• Willingness and ability to travel to the U.S. and internationally.
• Agreeable to all maritime sailing and seafarer guidelines, requirements and regulations, including sailing onboard the DCL ships in the status of ‘cast sailing on business’ and assigned to the crew manifest.

Our Company proudly provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants.  We welcome and encourage applications from persons with disabilities.  Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in any aspect of the selection process.