High School Musical: Summer Edition Auditions

The press release regarding auditions for ABC's High School Musical: Summer session has been released and they will be having casting calls at Walt Disney World and an undetermined Southern California location.  Here is the release: 

Millions of young people can vie to be part of Disney’s “High School Musical” global sensation when the ABC Television Network launches a nationwide casting search for its new summer series, “High School Musical: Summer Session.” The casting information and applications for the open calls can be found at www.abc.com/hsmsummersession The series debuts on ABC on Sunday, July 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) and runs Sundays and Mondays (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) for three weeks, then continues Mondays at 8:00 p.m., ET through mid-September. The producers welcome anyone and everyone ages 16-22 who has dreamed of being center stage — the high school quarterback who’s never tried out for a play but has a song in his heart, the drama club extrovert looking to break into the big time, someone looking to trade the chess club routine for a dance routine — all are invited to try to “Get’cha head in the game,” as the hit song says. The finalists will ultimately participate in a summer music program to hone their skills, and one talented newcomer will receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of the “High School Musical” family. The winner will receive a grand prize—details will be announced separately. Lots of fantastic surprises await someone with the talent to go to the head of the class! 

Two epic open casting calls will be held to help narrow the field, one in southern California (date, time and other details to be announced) and one at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida on May 7 (details to be announced). Both of these open auditions will be a part of the early episodes of the series. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 22 is welcome to give it a shot at the open calls (if you are under 18, you must bring your parent or legal guardian) and can download an application and view eligibility requirements at www.abc.com/hsmsummersession.

In addition to the open calls in southern California and Orlando, the casting scouts from “High School Musical: Summer Session” are scouring the country looking for otherwise unknown talent who they think deserve a chance to try out for this new reality series. The casting scouts will select some of these individuals to be brought to the final auditions, before a panel of judges, which will be held as the final phases of the open calls. If you are selected to audition, bring your A-game for a chance to appear before our judges and show them why you deserve to join the “High School Musical” family.

  Are you going to "Get Your Head in the Game" and audition?  I can't wait for this show to return.  High School Musical and The Mole, its going to be a great summer.

Quick Takes:

Parks and Resorts: On April 3 in New York City, a team of world-renowned scientists and Disney's very own Dr. Bunsen Honeydew of "The Muppets" announced the first annual World Science Festival, an unprecedented celebration of scientific discovery.

The festival will take place from May 28 through June 1 and will bring together top researchers, educators, creative artists and others to create more than 40 unique events that will shine a spotlight on science and explore the many ways in which scientific discovery and innovation are shaping modern life. Walt Disney Imagineering will lend its expertise with "The Science of Imagination," giving participants an inside glimpse into technologies such as robotics, pyrotechnics, virtual reality, special effects and artificial intelligence.

 For more information, you can visit their website; worldsciencefestival.com.  My only question is what did Dr. Bunsen Honeydew do with his assistant Beaker.  He was nowhere to be found.  I smell a scandal.

Media Networks: Steven Miller, the founder of Hyperion, has left Disney after 17 years to create a "studio" publisher for HarperCollins.  Ellen Archer has taken over as the head of the division.  Hyperion is a sleeper part of Disney that many people don't think about on a daily basis.  However, Hyperion has done very well lately, including launching a new impring called "Voice" focused on women.  This imprint happened to be started by Ellen Archer who now oversees the entire publisher.  In other news HarperCollins is working with Disney to promote reading in association with the release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. 

What to Watch: Duel returns to ABC at 9/8central.  I love Mike Greenberg, but I hope they added some energy to the show compared to the first run.  Screen up.

Video of the Day: The internet sensation, "The Last Lecture" will be examined in a special edition of Primetime on Wednesday.  You can watch Randy Pausch's lectrue at http://www.abcnews.com/lastlecture.  Randy did some consulting with WDI, in fact he wears a WDI polo shirt while he delivers the lecture.  I know this video has had an impact internally at Disney and it is quite moving.  Another note, Randy's book will be released by Hyperion.