THE NEXT CHAPTER COULD BE YOURS · NEWPORT BEACH, CA
Make a living.
Make a little magic.
For the storytellers, the daydreamers, and the people who light up when a child believes. Come help us make memories that last a lifetime.
Find your character ↓WHO ARE WE?
We built the world.
You bring it to life.
Once Upon An Island creates immersive worlds for children on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. Behind every mermaid encounter, princess tea party and North Pole adventure is a performer who makes the impossible feel wonderfully real.
Watch our homepage film and meet the heart behind the magic.
Our founder Heather, on why we built this world.
A DREAM WITH A PURPOSE
More time.
More connection.
More wonder.
Our founder, Heather Burbich, began her career portraying Disney princesses at Disneyland, then performed at Disneyland Paris and aboard Disney Cruise Line. Her favorite part was always the children. Her wish was always the same: more time with them.
So she built a world where children are never rushed. Where a shy child has time to warm up, a curious child can ask another question, and meeting a character becomes a real relationship.
We take that responsibility seriously. We are part of core memories children may carry for the rest of their lives. We’re looking for performers who care deeply about making those memories beautiful.
A VERY GOOD QUESTION
“If you have to work,
why not make it fun!”
FIND YOUR PEOPLE
A cast.
A community.
A place to belong.
You’re not just performing. You’re making friends, building community, and supporting one another.
Our worlds come to life through teamwork: sharing ideas, cheering each other on, and showing up with care for our guests and our fellow performers. Bring your creativity, your kindness, and your sense of fun.
The magic is something we make together.
CURRENT CASTING OPPORTUNITIES
Who will you become?
Explore a role below for photos, pay details and audition directions. Each role has its own short application right inside it. All we need is a little bit about you and a few photos. A self-tape is optional but helpful, and you’re just as welcome to request an in-person interview at our Newport Beach venue.
CHRISTMAS 2026 · MALE & FEMALE · 6–8 PERFORMERSNorth Pole Elves
$25–$50/hr · Guaranteed tips
North Pole Elves
$25–$50/hr · Guaranteed tipsCHRISTMAS 2026 · CASTING 6–8 MALE & FEMALE PERFORMERS
A little mischief. A lot of heart.
Step through the doorway into Once Upon A Christmas. As one of Santa’s elves, you’ll welcome families into a living North Pole, guide curious children through extraordinary discoveries, and turn their questions into delightful little adventures. We’re looking for expressive, energetic storytellers with quick imaginations, warm hearts and a love of playful improvisation. We are seeking both male and female performers for this role.
A glimpse of the world you’ll bring to life.
Self-tape directions: North Pole Elves +
Start with the slate below. Then perform your character section and choose any three questions to answer in character. Imagine a curious child is right in front of you. Keep it warm, playful and believable.
Your elf introduction
“Jingle bells and jellybeans! Hello, hello! I’m Pip Peppermint, Assistant Director of Toy Testing and Extremely Important Giggles. I’ve come all the way from the North Pole, and I have a very important question: are you ready for a little Christmas adventure? Wonderful! Santa says the best helpers have kind hearts, big imaginations, and excellent cookie-sharing skills. Now, let’s see what merry mischief we can get into!”
Use this introduction, give your elf your own name, and make the character yours through your voice, movement and personality.
Choose three child questions
- What’s Santa’s favorite candy?
- How do you make toys so fast?
- How old are you?
- What happens if a reindeer sneezes?
- What do elves eat for breakfast?
- How does Santa fit down a tiny chimney?
- What’s the silliest toy you’ve ever made?
- How do reindeer learn to fly?
- What do you do when a toy breaks?
- Does Santa ever take a vacation?
- What’s your favorite job at the North Pole?
- What happens if someone stays awake on Christmas Eve?
APPLY FOR THIS ROLE
Apply for North Pole Elves
It only takes a few minutes. Tell us a little about you, add a photo or two, and you’re done. A self-tape or an in-person interview request is optional, and helps us move things along faster.
CURRENTLY CASTINGNeverland Mermaids
$25–$50/hr inside · $100/hr outside
Neverland Mermaids
$25–$50/hr inside · $100/hr outsideCURRENTLY CASTING · NEWPORT BEACH
Your imagination belongs here.
Our Neverland mermaids are original characters, each with a whole underwater life to share. You’ll invite children into our Mermaid World through conversation, play, transformations, tea parties and birthday adventures. Bring your own mermaid personality, a wonderfully silly sea story, and the ability to make every child feel like a friend.
A glimpse of the world you’ll bring to life.
Self-tape directions: Neverland Mermaids +
Start with the slate below. Then perform your character section and choose any three questions to answer in character. Imagine a curious child is right in front of you. Keep it warm, playful and believable.
Introduce your original Neverland mermaid
Invent your mermaid name, your job under the sea (perhaps you work at the Whale Wash!), your best sea creature friend, a story about how you met, and your mermaid superpower. Tell us about your world in character.
Choose three child questions
- Why do you have feet?
- Are you wearing a wig?
- Where is your tail?
- How do you breathe underwater?
- Do you know Ariel?
- Can I become a mermaid?
- What do mermaids eat?
- Have you ever met a shark?
- Where do you sleep?
- How do you talk to fish?
- Can you show me your superpower?
- Why can’t I see your ocean home?
Optional singing
If you sing, include 30 seconds of a song of your choice. Singing is not required.
Review lighting & slate instructions ↑APPLY FOR THIS ROLE
Apply for Neverland Mermaids
It only takes a few minutes. Tell us a little about you, add a photo or two, and you’re done. A self-tape or an in-person interview request is optional, and helps us move things along faster.
CURRENTLY CASTINGPrincess Performers
$25–$50/hr inside · $100/hr outside
Princess Performers
$25–$50/hr inside · $100/hr outsideCURRENTLY CASTING · VENUE & TRAVELING EVENTS
Be the person she remembers forever.
There is a moment when a child realizes her favorite princess is right there, looking at her, listening to her, and inviting her into the story. That is the moment we care about. Bring beloved characters to life at intimate experiences, birthday parties and events in our venue, and at celebrations in family homes. Thoughtful character work, beautiful storytelling and heartfelt connection make the magic real.
A glimpse of the world you’ll bring to life.
Self-tape directions: Princess Performers +
Start with the slate below. Then perform your character section and choose any three questions to answer in character. Imagine a curious child is right in front of you. Keep it warm, playful and believable.
Tell her story
Choose your favorite princess and tell a 60-second story in first person, as that princess. Speak to a child, bring the moment to life, and let us see her warmth and personality.
Optional singing
If you sing, include 30 seconds of a Disney princess song. Singing is not required.
Choose three child questions
- Are you a real princess?
- Are you wearing a wig?
- Where is your castle?
- How did you get here?
- Where is your prince?
- Do you know the other princesses?
- Why do you look different in the movie?
- Can I be a princess too?
- Do you sleep in your gown?
- Can you stay at my house forever?
- What do you do when you feel scared?
- Why isn’t your animal friend here?
APPLY FOR THIS ROLE
Apply for Princess Performers
It only takes a few minutes. Tell us a little about you, add a photo or two, and you’re done. A self-tape or an in-person interview request is optional, and helps us move things along faster.
NOW CASTING · MALE PERFORMERSMale Performers
$25–$50/hr+ · Guaranteed tips
Male Performers
$25–$50/hr+ · Guaranteed tipsNOW CASTING · ELVES, PIRATES, PETER PAN & SANTA CLAUS
From Neverland to the North Pole.
Seeking male performers for various roles, from Peter Pan to Santa Claus. Lead a band of brave little pirates on a treasure hunt, fly into a birthday as Peter Pan, help Santa’s workshop come alive as a North Pole elf, or become the Santa Claus a family remembers for years. We’re looking for warm, energetic performers who love to play, improvise and make every child feel like the hero of the story.
- North Pole Elves · Christmas 2026
- Pirates · venue and traveling parties
- Peter Pan · venue and traveling parties
- Santa Claus · Christmas 2026
A glimpse of the world you’ll bring to life.
Self-tape directions: Male Performers +
Start with the slate below and tell us which role you’re auditioning for. Then perform the introduction for your role and choose any three questions from that role to answer in character. Imagine a curious child is right in front of you. Keep it warm, playful and believable. Auditioning for more than one role? Include a clearly labeled section for each.
North Pole Elf
Introduce your elf: give them a name, your job in Santa’s workshop, your favorite part of Christmas, and the silliest thing that has ever happened at the North Pole. You’re welcome to use the elf introduction in the North Pole Elves directions above as a starting point.
- What’s Santa’s favorite candy?
- How do you make toys so fast?
- What happens if a reindeer sneezes?
- What do elves eat for breakfast?
- How do reindeer learn to fly?
- What’s your favorite job at the North Pole?
Pirate
Introduce your original pirate: your pirate name, your ship and crew, the greatest treasure you’ve ever found, and a story about the closest you’ve come to meeting a sea monster. Then invite a child to join your crew.
- Are you a real pirate?
- Where is your ship?
- Have you ever met Captain Hook?
- Where do you hide your treasure?
- Are pirates good or bad?
- Can I be a pirate too?
Peter Pan
Introduce yourself as Peter Pan: tell a 60-second story in first person about an adventure in Neverland with the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell or Captain Hook. Let us see Peter’s confidence, mischief and big imagination.
- Can you really fly?
- Where is Tinker Bell?
- How do I get to Neverland?
- Why don’t you ever grow up?
- Are you scared of Captain Hook?
- Where is your shadow?
Santa Claus
Greet a child as Santa: welcome them to the North Pole, share something special about your reindeer or your workshop, and ask what they’re wishing for this Christmas. Show us Santa’s warmth, patience and gentle sense of wonder.
- Are you the real Santa?
- How do you visit every house in one night?
- Am I on the nice list?
- What is your favorite cookie?
- Which reindeer is your favorite?
- Can you bring me a puppy?
Optional singing
If you sing, include 30 seconds of a song of your choice. Singing is not required.
Review lighting & slate instructions ↑APPLY FOR THIS ROLE
Apply for Male Performers
It only takes a few minutes. Tell us a little about you, add a photo or two, and you’re done. A self-tape or an in-person interview request is optional, and helps us move things along faster.
YOUR AUDITION JOURNEY
A little preparation.
A lot of personality.
Find your spark.
Open the role that makes you smile. Its details, self-tape directions and application are all in one place. You can apply for more than one.
Let us meet you.
Answer a few quick questions and add 1 to 5 photos of yourself. Want to move things along faster? Upload a self-tape from your phone, or request an in-person interview instead.
Step into our world.
We’ll reach out to set up a time at our venue. We’ll get to know your character work, connection and creativity in person, with no pressure and lots of encouragement.
SELF-TAPE BASICS (OPTIONAL)
We want to see you shine.
Keep your setup simple.
Face a window or place a soft light in front of you. Avoid a bright window behind you, harsh shadows, filters and distracting backgrounds. Keep the camera at eye level, use a quiet room, and make sure we can hear you clearly.
Film horizontally with your face and upper body visible for the performance. Step back for the full-body portion. Everyday clothes are fine; a costume is not necessary.
Start with your slate.
Tell us your name, where you live, and one fun fact about yourself.
Stand facing forward, then turn to show your left profile and right profile. Finish with a full-body view, head to toe. Then move into the audition directions for your role.
Be yourself in your slate. Be your character in the performance. Singing is optional for mermaid and princess auditions.
YOUR STORY STARTS HERE
Choose your role
Each role has its own short application. Choose a role to read the details and apply right there. We can’t wait to meet the person behind the character.