Disney World Seeks Performers for Maleficent Role in Upcoming 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After' Show

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Villains Show concept art

Posted: Thursday January 23, 2025 9:11am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney Live Entertainment has opened another round of casting submissions for the role of Maleficent in their upcoming production "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort.

Villains Show concept art

The new show, set to open in summer 2025, will transform Sunset Showcase into the Magic Mirror's realm, featuring live performances by Disney's iconic villains, including Cruella de Vil and Captain Hook alongside Maleficent.

For the role of Maleficent, Disney seeks female-identifying performers between 5'10" and 6'1" who can embody the animated character's commanding presence. The non-singing role requires strong acting abilities to portray the self-proclaimed "mistress of all evil."

Villains Show concept art

Local performers can submit video auditions through February 1, 2025. The submission process requires actors to perform a provided monologue and complete an online check-in. Selected candidates will be notified by February 5 for potential in-person callbacks in Orlando on February 13.

The role falls under Disney World's agreement with Actors' Equity Association. Interested performers can find submission details at Checkin.DisneyAuditions.com.

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wdwmagic1 day ago

Sunset Showcase Gets Fresh Paint Ahead of 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After' Debut at Hollywood Studios https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/magic-mirror-villains-show/news/08may2025-sunset-showcase-gets-fresh-paint-ahead-of-disney-villains-unfairly-ever-after-debut-at-hollywood-studios.htm

Jedi146 days ago

The roles were for singing and speaking.

Comped6 days ago

Equity roles do not (technically) require live singing, unfortunately.

discos7 days ago

It's already been confirmed through casting breakdowns that the three main Villain characters are Equity roles which means they will be singing and speaking live. As per Equity rules, I believe a lip sync track for each performer is recorded for backup just in case but on a day to day basis, the 3 main Villains as well as Ariel and Eric in the reimagined Little Mermaid show will all be equity roles that will sing and speak live.

Comped7 days ago

Obvious every other villain would be recorded, if not pulled straight from archive material. While some of the lesser known voice actors would be pretty happy to record new stuff, I doubt it. I just don't thi k with an 18 minute show, we can rule out the possibility of having tracks for everyone which would lower the cost by a fair amount. Assuming this is even a long-term thing. Then again who the hell knows, it'll probably stay for 15 years and decay. If I'm wrong I will be very happy to be wrong because we have so much less live performance in Orlando then we did even 10 years ago, but I doubt it. And that's not coming from any source or anything, that's just my opinion based on what we have seen come out of entertainment for years and years here. Cost cutting after cost cutting...

Jedi148 days ago

I think it will be that Cruella, Hook, and Maleficent are live and anyone else will be recorded.

ToTBellHop8 days ago

I would guess a hybrid with some live, some pre-recorded. They usually want more recent villains to be pre-recorded since people know the voices. They have more latitude with classic villains since they’d need new voice artists anyway for a recording.

Comped8 days ago

That I hadn't heard (don't snoop around the Disney auditions website as much as I used to), so we just have to hope it stuck!

Jedi148 days ago

I remember seeing auditions for the Villain show for singers.

Comped8 days ago

It could have live vocals, but that was far more likely at 40 minutes than 20. IMO. Wouldn't doubt if that gets cut in exchange for movie-accurate tracks. Of course if I'm wrong (and I dearly hope I am), all the better. But I can't trust DLE making the right choice here.

ToTBellHop8 days ago

That would be very disappointing as this has potential. At least Mermaid will have some live vocals…

Comped8 days ago

It annoys me immensely because I KNOW DLE (even with many of the best writers, producers, and so forth, from the old days gone) can do better than an 18 minute show. I'm leaning to it not having live singing if it's that short in all honesty. Saves Equity agreement required $$$, which seems to be really important to Disney these days.