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Kids go goofy in front of camera
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA -- Dawn Burns drove up from Bradenton. Karen Law stood in line three times. Both said it was worth it, even if they left empty-handed. They were among a few hundred proud parents and grandparents who spent a wet Saturday afternoon outside the Florida Aquarium watching their little ones get wacky in front of a camera and, maybe, even famous. The event was part of Toon Disney channel's nationwide search for the most animated kid. Each had 30 seconds to wiggle, giggle and grimace his way to stardom. The wackiest kid, 6-year-old Blake Coulter, won a gift basket of Disney goodies and a chance for the grand prize trip to Hollywood, where artists will create a cartoon character based on the winner. Tampa was one of several stops Disney is making around the country between now and September. Judges will select 10 semifinalists and post their performance on Disney's Web site. People will vote to pick the winner. The most animated child will become a character in one of Disney's cartoons to be aired on television this fall. Judges are looking for someone oozing with enthusiasm, spunkiness and craziness. Parents said the auditions gave their children a chance to show others how they act at home all day -- crazy. "She's such a ham," said Susan Ragsdale of her 10-year-old daughter Sarah. "I thought this would be good for her. She always has a microphone at her mouth." Her South Tampa neighbor, Antoinette Defazio, said the tryouts made for an exciting afternoon. "We needed something to do. It's rainy," she said. "It just sounded like fun." Dawn Burns and her 10-year-old daughter, Mary, made a day of it. They left Bradenton in the morning and planned to hit Brandon Town Center for some shopping after Mary strutted her stuff. "It's not every day that you get to audition," said Mary, who wore a T-shirt that said Drama Queen and threw kisses to the crowd as she performed. Others, however, weren't so at ease. Karen Law of South Tampa spent three hours waiting for her 4-year-old granddaughter, Daeinera Whitford, to take center stage. They even drove home after she got cold feet twice, but returned when she begged to go back. "I just want to see her get over her fears and do it," Law said. "She's never done anything like it before."
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