Questions concerning a few roles and the casting process.

[Theme Park Where]

When I worked at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, I spent one summer working the "Lost Parents" office (where lost children were brought to wait for someone to find them). Hold on, this story IS pertinent to the current discussion! :D:

The Lost Parents office was right behind one of the theatres, and therefore was where the entertainment folks had their office (in a backstage part of the office). The characters also shared that space (again behind the scenes). Often, inbetween sets the character performers would put on t-shirts and jeans and come into Lost Parents to color with or read to the kids who were stuck there. Sometimes, since Six Flags had a specific age policy, we would have kids who were there much of the day because they were in the park alone, having been dropped off for the day by stupid parents or cut loose by stupid school chaperones, and had made the mistake of asking security for help finding something. Security HAD to bring them to us. Most we "let escape" but often the kid would really be nervous about being in the park alone so would sit out the day playing card games, coloring, or reading with us.

There was one guy who was "too good" to help out in the office. He played Bugs Bunny, and often let everyone know that he was the leader of the characters because he played the "star!" He would barely speak to us in the office when we'd be backstage. He was the main guy to play Bugs, so when we saw the bunny in the park, you could pretty much assume it was him.

One afternoon, on my day off, I was sitting on a park bench outside the Lost Parents office, watching the characters do a set. I really wanted to be a character at that time, and enjoyed watching them work. Plus, most of them knew me so I usually got some extra attention. Bugs was of course the center of the universe and the other characters were sort of staying off to the side. A family was there with a young girl (maybe 7 or 8 years old) who was acting out quite a bit. You could tell by her body language that she didn't want anything to do with this character nonsense, and you could tell her parents were getting upset because they wanted a family picture. Finally, having enough of the girl's attitude, the mother turned to her and signed something that I can only assume was "straighten up or we're going home." The girl signed back what I imagine was a typical child's reaction to that. Bugs, however knelt down and signed something to her himself. Having regular white gloves for hands and obviously being fluent in ASL, he could communicate with her. You could see by the look on her face how shocked and happy that little girl was. All day, the family had been having fun, but no one spoke that little girl's language until now. And of all people who spoke her language, it was Bugs Bunny! He spent the rest of the set in communication with her, stopping for other photos occassionally, then coming back to her. I'm sure to this day, if you found that little girl all grown up, Bugs Bunny is still her favorite character.

After that day, I never minded the actor's attitude again either. He had a right to feel he was special. He was!

[joanna71985]

I am currently seasonal as a character attendant (I did my CP in 2006). I absolutely love it. Most of the guests I met were wonderful (and totally made up for the handle of "doozies" that I had to deal with). I loved interacting with the guests (especially with the children) and enjoyed pin trading with kids. It's a great role. I especially loved getting to work in all 4 parks.