Hero Boy - Polar Express Character

Xanterra Travel Collection; Williams (AZ); On-site; USD 17,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free Grand Canyon Railway Tickets

Free Employee Run Train Tickets

Property discounts

MEC (Minimal Essential Coverage)

Sick Time

Free Shuttle Service

Job summary

Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, operated by Xanterra Travel Collection, is hiring for a seasonal Hero Boy role at the Williams Depot. The live Polar Express experience requires sincerity and stage presence to engage guests while ensuring their safety and enjoyment during nightly performances.

Responsibilities include memorizing narrations, interacting with guests of all ages, and collaborating with cast and staff to deliver a seamless guest experience.

Qualifications

• Experience in public speaking.
• Strong communication in guest-facing roles.
• Willingness to perform in front of live audiences.
• Experience in theatrical role-playing preferred.
• Customer service experience in hospitality preferred.

Responsibilities

• Memorizes narrations and authentically portrays the Hero Boy for nightly productions.
• Interact with children and adults while maintaining audience control.
• Follow safety practices and respond to guest emergencies.
• Work with cast and staff to ensure a positive guest experience.
• Maintain schedule flexibility with weekends and holidays.

Skills

Public speaking

Guest interaction

Stage presence

Team collaboration

Job description

Overview

"THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s25)"

Join our team at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel!

Are you enthusiastic about Christmas, people, and holiday spirit? Well the Grand Canyon Railway is now hiring for THE POLAR EXPRESS! The Train Ride at Grand Canyon Railway's Historic Williams Depot is a LIVE, interactive event based on the film by Warner Bros.

About The Role!

Hero Boy is the emotional core of The Polar Express - a thoughtful child torn between doubt and belief in Santa. Through the journey, he rediscovers the magic of Christmas. This role works strictly on platform and requires sincerity, subtlety, and the ability to create memorable, heartfelt moments while supporting passenger safety and experience throughout the production.

The Details:

Position Type: Seasonal

Seasonal Dates: 10/15/2026 to 1/03/2027

Schedule: (Part time is a 2 to 4 day work week minimum)

• Must be available on weekends (Saturday & Sunday)
• Three addition days between Monday - Friday

Employee Benefits & Perks:

• Free Grand Canyon Railway Train Tickets!
• Free Employee Run Train Tickets!
• Property Discounts and More!
• MEC (Minimal Essential Coverage)
• Sick Time

FREE Shuttle Service:

• Limited Capacity: 7 People per ride.
• Employee Shuttle from Flagstaff to Williams and back after shift!

Responsibilities:

• Fully understand and support Xanterra’s Mission Statement, Cultural Pillars, Community Commitment and Core Values.
• Memorizes narrations and authentically portrays the Hero Boy Character role for the duration of the nightly productions.
• Interact appropriately and patiently with children and adults of all ages, handling children and adults on a one-on-one basis or in large quantities, while maintaining audience control.
• Understand safety practices, including maintaining appropriate physical boundaries and responding to guest emergencies.
• Participate in basic vocals and movement as presented in the script.Work alongside the cast and staff members to ensure a positive work environment and an exceptional/seamless experience for guests.
• Interact appropriately and patiently with children and adults of all ages, handling children and adults on a one-on-one basis or in large quantities, while maintaining audience control during performance and in designated meet & greet times
• Handles stressful situations professionally in a public setting and resolves guest-related issues in a professional and timely manner, offering additional assistance to guests in need.
• Works as a team player, establishes and maintains an effective professional working relationship with co-workers, directors, and other departments, working together in a positive work environment.
• Maintains schedule flexibility, working scheduled shifts to include days, evenings, weekends and holidays. Shifts are 6+/- hours per day.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have previous experience in public speaking.
• Must be able to demonstrate good and professional communication skills in a guest-facing role.
• Must be open to performing in a live audience and maintain a good stage presence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in theatrical role-playing.
• Customer service experience in the hospitality industry

Basic Competencies:

• Verbal comprehension (understand oral and written communication, follow detailed instructions).
• Communication skills (provide clear instructions/directions).
• Reasoning skills (problem-solving and troubleshooting skills).
• Performance skills (ability to have vocal clarity, warm personality and strong presence).
• Character adaptability (comfortable with improvisation and maintaining characters’ integrity).
• Interpersonal skills (ability to communicate, collaborate and build effective relationships with others through empathy, respect and emotional intelligence)

Physical Requirements:

• Constantly listening, hearing, seeing, speaking, standing, squatting/kneeling and lifting/carrying items up to 20lbs.
• Frequently walking, reaching outward, climbing, lifting/carrying items up to 50lbs and pushing/pulling items up to 25lbs.
• Will be required to stand and walk for long periods of time on cement floors and to occasionally walk on uneven surfaces and onboard moving train.

Costume Requirements:

The company provides the Hero Boy costume robe and pajama shirt. Employees are responsible for providing black pants and character-appropriate footwear, preferably loafers or similar shoes that help maintain the appearance of pajamas while ensuring safe movement throughout the production. All employee-provided clothing and footwear must be free of visible logos, graphics, trademarks, brand names, or other identifying markings. Employee-provided items must be clean, well-maintained, and consistent with the character's appearance standards. Employees may supplement their costume with approved personal clothing items that enhance the character's appearance, provided they comply with all costume and appearance guidelines.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.