Ten “Citizens of Hollywood,” the actors who portray old-time Tinseltown characters at Walt Disney World, will lose their jobs in April.
The cuts mean the group that performs at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will shrink by a third.
A spokeswoman for the Actors’ Equity Association, which represents the performers, confirmed Monday 10 of the 29 will not have their contracts renewed.
Nine of the performers who will lose their jobs currently work at Disney full-time, union spokeswoman Maria Somma said. One works part-time.
Disney gave the actors notice last week. They will stop working at the end of their contract in mid-April.
A Disney spokeswoman did not immediately have a comment Monday.
Other cuts have gone into effect as well at Disney World.
Earlier this month, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. laid off about 100 painters working at the resort.
Some character experiences have been slightly shortened, according to a union representative. Disney will run the Main Street Electrical Parade only once a night during March, typically one of the resort’s busiest times.
From the Orlando Sentinel
