Paid Acting Jobs for The Polar Express™ Train Ride — Portland, Maine

Make holiday magic aboard a real train! The Polar Express™ Train Ride in Portland, ME is holding open auditions for paid seasonal performers. This is a licensed Warner Bros. live event production, and cast members may list the Warner Bros. credit in their portfolio.

Talent Application

Quick Facts

• 📍 Where: Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum — 65 Thames St., Portland, ME 04101
• 📅 Performance Dates (2025):
  Nov 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30
  Dec 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27
• 💵 Pay: $16–$21 per hour (DOE)
• 🚂 Local hire: Reliable transportation required; multiple departures per day

Roles Casting

• 🚃 Car Host (Onboard)
  • Assist with seating, guest interaction, serving “hot, hot chocolate!”, leading sing-alongs, supporting narration, helping Santa, tidying between runs.
  • Big holiday energy, crowd warmth, patience, and kid-friendly improv are musts.
• 🎟️ Conductor (Onboard)
  • Greet/board passengers, guide lines, ensure guest comfort/cleanliness, help serve cocoa, coordinate with railroad crew, keep operations smooth.
• 🎤 Prologue Conductor / Greeter (Stationary)
  • Welcome guests, answer questions, and perform a scripted 2-minute pre-boarding monologue with SFX/lighting before leading groups to the train.
  • Comfortable standing for shifts; mostly indoors with some outdoor time.

Previous acting experience is a plus, not required. Confidence, leadership, a sense of humor, love of performing for children, and improv skills are strongly preferred.

Physical & Availability Notes

• 🧭 Comfortable navigating narrow aisles and boarding/deboarding repeatedly.
• 🌡️ Indoors + outdoors in winter conditions; follow railroad safety direction.
• 🗓️ Preference to performers who can commit to every performance day.

How to Audition

• 📧 Email: MLevy@MaineNarrowGauge.org (Attn: Matt Levy, General Manager) to request an audition.
• 🎭 Prepare: A brief (≤30 seconds) comedic or nostalgic monologue inspired by The Polar Express book/film. Improv exercises will be part of the audition.