It's that time of year again for Disney Channel and Disney XD to hold the first official open casting call of 2012, this one in Kansas City, Missouri. Casting directors are seeking boys and girls between the ages of 10 - 18 (or who look like they are 10 - 18) and are interested in acting, dancing, or singing. The purpose of these open casting calls is to discover talented young actors to be considered for upcoming original movies and series produced for Disney Channel and Disney XD.

Some of the upcoming and current Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney Channel series, and Disney XD series are "The Little Leftover Witch," "Adventure Quest," "A.N.T. Farm," "Good Luck Charlie," "Kickin' It," "Pair of Kings," "Austin & Ally," "Crash and Bernstein," and "Dog with a Blog". Almost all Disney Channel television series are shot in Los Angeles, while many Disney Channel Original Movies are filmed at various locations around the country and in Canada.

Disney Channel open casting calls are held annually in various cities around the United States and world. For these open casting calls, dates and locations are released to the general public through the Official Disney Channel website and press releases. Talent can usually download a registration form ahead of time and then just show up at the casting call without an appointment. The lines are long any many many kids and teens are seen by the casting representatives in person at the open casting calls.

In the summer of 2004, Selena Gomez was discovered as a result of Disney Channel's first worldwide casting search; and three weeks after her location audition in her native city of Dallas, TX, she was invited to Los Angeles to meet Disney Channel programming executives. She was cast as a guest star in Disney Channel's original hit series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and "Hannah Montana", as well as a couple of Disney Channel pilots. Just one example of how showing up for these official Disney Channel open casting calls can make a performers dreams come true!