The reviews from performers about this department appear to be accurate. Much of the behavior described regarding how leadership treated employees was observed firsthand. The other performers, assistants, supervisors, and managers in this department were a pleasure to work with. However, the primary reason for leaving the company was the department's leadership. It is often said that people don’t leave jobs—they leave managers. In this case, that sentiment proved to be true. Within less than a year, several supervisors and performers departed the department, citing an inability to tolerate the behavior of upper management. Despite promoting an anti-bullying message, leadership’s actions often contradicted this. Team members were routinely ranked and compared in a hierarchical manner, with individuals publicly placed at the "top" or "bottom" on a weekly basis. The atmosphere became so uncomfortable that it was frequently compared to being part of a reality competition show. Leadership also regularly reminded the team that everyone was "replaceable" and claimed to have a surplus of applications ready to fill positions. Ironically, retaining employees for more than a year appeared to be a recurring issue. A significant disconnect also existed between the job descriptions provided during the hiring process and the actual responsibilities. Supervisors and performers rarely performed the duties outlined in their contracts because nearly every decision and task was micromanaged. Contributions and ideas were centralized, with credit often reserved solely for leadership. Instead of fulfilling creative or leadership expectations, the role often felt more like that of a personal assistant. At one point, nearly the entire team was written up in a single week for minor infractions, such as forgetting items in dressing rooms after long shifts. These write-ups were framed as a "teaching tool," but the constant threat of termination for accumulating too many created an unnecessarily punitive environment. Decisions were frequently made based on emotion rather than considering the safety and well-being of employees or performers. Daily operations often fluctuated, depending on leadership’s mood, which created a lack of consistency and stability. Contributions from team members were often dismissed or belittled, and public criticism of employees in front of others was common. This fostered low morale across the department. Mondays were particularly difficult, as small details—such as a chair being slightly out of place—would sometimes trigger tense outbursts, setting a negative tone for the day. Scheduling was another major issue. Management positions were advertised as offering 40-hour workweeks, but this was rarely the case. Shifts often included lengthy, unpaid breaks of up to five hours or provided only 4–5 hours of work per day. However, employees were still required to work six days a week. Requests for clarification or adjustments to hours were often dismissed or met with manipulative responses, leaving team members feeling invalidated and frustrated. After learning about reviews posted on this platform, the Director reportedly unfriended or blocked former employees who they suspected might have written critical comments. Additionally, efforts were made to contact the platform’s administrator to request the removal of reviews that described the Director in detail.

I didn’t official work here, but was offered a job by the “director.” He kept pressuring me to take the job even though I wanted to a few days to think about because I had other offers and a current job (that paid better). He kept pressuring me to take the offering instead of letting me think on it. He also said he was going to teach this certain skill because he knows it, but I do not think he was completely certified, so I did not think it was a safe idea especially knowing how Gatlinburg is. Also, I had to send very detailed measurements (like waist, in seam, and shoulders) because they did not have a costume shop. He said I could not continue with the application until I sent the measurements even if it was the vague or what I could get. I wanted the job so I had to scrounge for a tap measure. The offer was not worth the pay or hours. Seeing these reviews I am glad I did not accept the job.

It’s only a matter of time before the 0ŵñ3r$ start posting.

Most of what I'm about to say will echo the other reviews already here. Can't say I'd recommend to anyone but my worst enemy. PROS: quite nice, free housing free/heavily discounted benefits around town decent pay most other entertainment staff are LOVELY bears!! CONS: Director. shows written by AI :( killer amount of work conservative area (MAGA store within walking distance) So. If you enjoy being overworked and gaslit this is the place for you (joking...). Entertainment at Anakeesta is very new (2 yrs old) and very small. The entertainment department had its own handbook (which HR later said wasn't allowed) with a sick policy that SIGNIFICANTLY decreased from summer to fall to winter; and all policies in the handbook were subject to change. Every show concept was admittedly ripped off from Cedar Fair. Director does not provide sheet music and teaches everything by ear, which then changes at his whim. He can't admit he's wrong or doesn't like his decision, so he'll gaslight you saying that isn't what he taught. He directs by giving exact line readings which you are meant to copy til the end of time and the scripts are all AI-generated which doesn't feel great to perform and is often clumsy and repetitive. These shows are created as a product to meet a quota so he gets a bonus and nothing more; more business transaction than art (and the business doesn't benefit you). Less of a collaborative process and more being told exactly what to do. He does not care when performers get injured on the job (asking if you're okay, providing aid) and only cares about how it affects the show (getting BLOOD out of costumes/props, placing blame for malfunctioning machines that hurt performers). He will unnecessarily disclose your personal information to other performers and staff and loves to talk badly about current and former casts. He creates an environment to try to turn performers against each other (if someone calls out sick no one gets work/paid, inequity of treatment between casts) but what held this contract together was the performers and other staff all having each other's backs. The choreographer is a sweetie tho, 10/10 would work with again and it was hard to see his ideas get squashed by the director. All shows do 5 shows/day (some "shows" might be meet and greets on the sidewalk near the park entrance), which gets very tiring by day 5 or 6 straight. That intensity and frequency performing expected of us led to injuries for several performers (twisted ankles, shin splints, vocal nodules) because of overuse and other conditions. Poor footwear caused constant pain and the thinnest/cheapest insoles were provided to cushion the crappiest shoes from Amazon not made for performing on concrete 25-30 times/week. Costumes were expensive (if they weren't bought straight off Amazon) but ill-fitting (too tight) which led to constant rips and malfunctions which performers were sometimes forced to perform with (pants split wide open with underwear showing). You are performing outdoors up on a mountain which can be hard because the weather is more extreme up there (hotter or colder than your phone will say) and you will have to perform in inclement weather (which you're told in your offer you won't have to) based on the call of your supervisor or the Director so it's a fun game where no one knows what's going on. Housing was in a newish apartment complex at the bottom of the mountain. 2 bedroom apartments with 1 or 2 bathrooms, in-unit laundry, pool (get that tan), and very small gym. Pet friendly!! Depending on how many performers in a season you'd share a room or not. Lots of things provided: all basic furniture (beds, mattresses, dressers, couch, TV, dining table), kitchenware (pots/pans, dishware, silverware, toaster, coffee machine). $200 security deposit when you move in (comes out of your first paycheck). Easily the nicest place I've lived on a contract. You get a PACKET at orientation of all the free/discounted stuff you get for being an Anakeesta employee. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is EXPENSIVE, so this is clutch for all the things you wanna do in your (limited) time off. Free admission to Dollywood, free arcades/MagiQuest/minigolf, very discounted tickets for the other shows. There's tons to do within walking distance (moonshine tastings, pancake houses, aquarium, shopping) or a short drive away (Smoky Mountain National Park, more pancake houses, outlet mall, the oddest attractions you've ever seen) and BEARS. You WILL see a black bear guaranteed and it's kinda awesome as long as they're not too close. You're an hour from Knoxville too which has lots of stuff as well. To give a feel for the vibe of the area, a Target opening 30 mins away was a BIG deal, there's 3 MAGA stores along the main road, and everyone wears Buc-ees t-shirts. You will encounter plenty of locals and tourists who may not have similar values to you (trying to convince you the government is creating hurricanes while you're at a moonshine tasting) and you kinda just have to smile and nod uncomfortably :/ Being there during the election was ~uncomfy~ Pay is $136/day. Some shows work 5 days/week, others 6 days/week. If there's a special event you have to be a part of, you get half-day ($68). The policy about how much you get paid due to weather or illness can change at the director's whim based on whether it's "advantageous" for him and how "generous" he's feeling even if he isn't there that day. (edited)

Working under the Director was an overwhelmingly negative experience that left me disheartened and drained. From the very beginning, the expectations set during the hiring process were far removed from the reality of the role. The job was presented as an opportunity to collaborate, contribute creatively, and be part of a dynamic team. Instead, the role devolved into being treated as nothing more than a grunt worker, assigned menial tasks that the Director didn’t want to handle himself. These duties were not only absent from the job description but were often assigned with little to no instruction and then met with harsh criticism when they weren’t completed to his vague and often unrealistic standards. The Director’s management style was toxic and oppressive. He routinely berated employees, often raising his voice in front of colleagues, creating an atmosphere of fear and humiliation. There was no effort to resolve mistakes constructively; instead, he chose to demean and embarrass his team, sometimes blaming us for errors he himself had made but refused to take responsibility for. This lack of accountability was pervasive. On many occasions, he blatantly lied to our faces, misrepresented facts, or shifted blame to save face, leaving employees to bear the brunt of his poor decisions. Perhaps most damaging was the Director’s habit of speaking negatively about employees behind their backs. This behavior created a culture of distrust and division, making it impossible to feel valued or respected within the team. Instead of fostering a sense of camaraderie, he actively worked against it, turning the workplace into a hostile and isolating environment. The unsafe scenarios we were placed in further amplified the frustration. One of the most alarming aspects of the role involved being tasked with physically dangerous setups and decor installations that were never mentioned during the hiring process. These tasks were presented as non-negotiable, despite the clear risks involved and the lack of proper training or equipment. It became evident that the Director prioritized results over employee safety and well-being. Ultimately, this role under the Direct Management was a far cry from what was promised. Rather than feeling supported, empowered, or appreciated, I was left feeling overworked, demeaned, and unsafe. This experience underscored a fundamental lack of leadership, professionalism, and respect that has no place in any workplace. For the sake of future employees and the overall integrity of the department, significant changes must be made. (edited)

Icompletely agree with everything others have said. I've never quit a job mid-contract before or since, but I quit this one. I’ll also add that the lyrics he used ChatGPT to modify for his show themes absolutely violate copyright law. He knows this and just assumes he’ll get away with it. Dollywood didn’t a couple of years ago and their main show got shut down a few months early. If you’re in a show here that gets shut down, he definitely won’t pay you. (edited)

Hopping on the don’t go to Anakeesta bandwagon because the a certain person in the entertainment division will make your life hell. Just please read the other reviews and study up on this place before accepting anything! (edited)

I’ll start off by saying that if I could give this place a 2.5/5 stars, I would, though for the sake of my own personal experience, I’m erroring on the side of 2 rather than 3 for an overall rating. There’s a LOT to dive into when it comes to this place, and the cons FAR outweigh the pros; the other reviews here really speak volumes and should absolutely be taken with absolute seriousness. I’d heard various things about working here from friends and friends of friends who worked here, and I was excited to be part of what I’d heard was a great entertainment team with respectable artists in a cool area. Gatlinburg is truly beautiful, and there is TONS to do in the area (the main strip of Pigeon Forge thru Gatlinburg really is like a mini Vegas, or very similar to Branson) and being an employee of the park gets you free or very discounted access to many of the attractions around, which is a great perk of the job. Like another review said, Gatlinburg is VERY far behind culturally, and I would hardly call it a safe place to be unless you’re a cis/het white redneck. Before one of my shows, a man in my audience was eating tacos and said out loud said to his family, “these white people tacos are so much better than brown people tacos.” Housing is provided for free (though they take a $200 deposit out of your first paycheck that no one tells you about, I found out from someone who was there before me) which is supposed to be given back to you after you move out. They house performers in the apartment complex at the bottom of the mountain, which is a fairly new complex that is pretty nice, four performers in a two bedroom with two separate bathrooms. You’ll have to sign a lease with the leasing manager of the complex, which is completely separate from the park. It does feel a little cramped sharing a small bedroom with another person and not the most fun sleeping in a wooden twin bed, but it’s free, so hard to complain about that. There’s a tiny “gym” that is part of the complex with two old treadmills, two recumbent bikes, a set of dumbbells that only go up to 30lbs, and a broken multi-use machine. The rehearsal process was….rough. It’s fast and demanding. We were scheduled to have a music rehearsal with the director of entertainment, though I’m not sure if I can even call what happened really close to that. We started with a brief “entertainment department” meeting, briefing on all things related to us as performers of the park, including being given an ‘entertainment department handbook’ which was PAGES long with detailed information about what was expected of us as performers and the sick/call out policy, which was only VERY briefly blown past in the offer phone call with the director and not super clearly explained. The sick policy had been revised twice from the summer season, to the fall season, to the winter season, and ended at you being able to miss ONE day if you were sick, two days as long as you had a doctors note (so good luck if you don’t have insurance), and threatened with losing your job for any days missed beyond that. If you have covid, you’re expected to be at work, performing and being around others in close quarters, sometimes with extensive audience interaction, as long as you don’t have a fever. We “went over the handbook together” as a cast, and by that I mean the director sped through the entire packet, highlighting only what he wanted us to hear, then made us all sign and agree to everything in this packet to give back to him immediately because “we needed to get to rehearsal” and could simply “read the handbook later.” Mind you, this is illegal— as employees of this place, we were to abide by an HR written employee handbook with policies set by the park, and this handbook that they MADE US SIGN had completely different/more aggressive policies regarding time away from work for illnesses and the termination policy. In this handbook says that anything is subject to change at the digression of the director, which he will absolutely change if it profits him, even if it harms the performers. Rehearsals themselves are exactly as these other reviews say… we were sent materials ahead of time, including our script that the director claims to have written, though later admitted was generated by AI, and lyric sheets to the songs in our show. Learning our music was the director playing karaoke tracks of pop songs and singing the melodies and harmonies he would make up on the spot at us, to which he expected us to regurgitate and memorize by recording on our phones, zero sheet music. There were several instances at following music rehearsals where performers would sing a harmony line that he came up with and the director would get upset with us, say we were singing it incorrectly, then we would play the recording of him singing the exact line he said was wrong, to which he would ignore and just change the line. He changed lines several times and either gaslit the performers for singing things incorrectly, or changed it to “something that sounded better” and never took ownership when he was at fault. Choreography rehearsals were interesting as well. If you’re expecting to learn intricate choreography with turns and lifts in front of real mirrors or even dance on non-carpeted floor, this isn’t the contract for you. We learned choreography in a hotel conference room (that you could hardly say was air conditioned with no fans when the temperature was over 80 outside) on carpeted floor in front of $10 Walmart door mirrors that were taped together and impossible to see into. Don’t get me wrong, I’m always the type of person who will work with what I have, but there’s no way this place can’t afford a proper rehearsal space with a safe dance floor and mirrors, especially when the dance call performers were sent to learn just to book the job, the director was dancing in a room with a hard wood floor and floor to ceiling mirrors. All that being said, the choreographer is DARLING and I would work with him again in a heartbeat- he is a sweetheart who wants the best of his performers and his rehearsal process is very open and collaborative, even if things aren’t working as originally planned. The stages are extremely small and either concrete or uneven cobblestone which will break the $20 Amazon shoes that aren’t suitable for dancing that they buy for your costume and/or injure you/give you long term foot/leg problems. My entire cast finished our contracts with some form of an injury, two of which had to be treated by a medical professional. The costumes are all tailored to be tighter than what is safe for a performer when it comes to dancing/singing as directed by the director because he “likes it better that way.” All of our costumes ended up tearing or ripping multiple times during shows, which we were blamed for when new rips would happen. There were multiple instances where performers would be uncomfortably exposed by either costumes that were too tight or due to bad rips, and we were still expected to perform our show. There are supervisors that watch over each show, and really only one or two that actually pay attention and are helpful. There’s one supervisor who has been suspected of being drunk on the job that watched over our show and would not help us safely stop our show either for weather hazards (like 60mph+ winds or rain that makes your stage slippery, which yes, you will perform in rain when you’re told you won’t have to) or safety hazards if cast members were injured mid show. You’ll absolutely be doing more than what you’re told you’ll be doing when you’re given your offer, and you won’t have a choice as to whether or not you want to participate in those extra activities. We were told with maybe 3 days notice that after a full day of perform our show, that we would have to participate in a parade, in costume, at night in below freezing temperatures. Our costumes were not suitable for cold weather and we weren’t given any kind of PPE for this cold weather, all for an extra half days worth of pay (a whopping $60) when we worked almost a 12 hour day. At the end of the day, we were publicly yelled at by the director for trying to leave to go home first (we had to be taken back to the entertainment building in small groups by ATV) again, after working almost a 12 hour day, because another cast that had just worked a half day had to wake up early the next day for a 2 hour long special event. Understandable, however, that should NOT warrant a public scolding via shouting in front of a room full of people that we did and didn’t know (or anyone, for that matter). I’ll go ahead and jump into thoughts on the director here. While this is a very talented and experienced individual, like the other reviews here say, he is probably the biggest con of working here. He refuses to take ownership when he is in the wrong or at fault for issues and will either place the blame on any thing or person around him or gaslight those around him to not be found at fault. He also publicly called himself fatphobic. He has no problem badmouthing performers that are currently working for him or who worked for him previously and will go around telling your personal information to other performers and supervisors that work for him. Sometimes he’ll abide by the rules he sets, but if you’re not one of his favorites, he’ll go back on his word immediately. He created an uncomfortable, chaotic, and unsafe work environment for several of us and cares only very surface level about those working for him, performer or technical/creative. There’s something to be said when you have multiple HR complaints filed about you, by both your performers and supervisors. TLDR: PROS -nice, free housing -fair pay -fantastic benefits -choreographer -beautiful area with lots to do CONS -director -unsafe work conditions -artistically unfulfilling shows written by AI -constantly changing rules -being forced to do more work than you’re told you’ll be doing -rude, racist, sexist patrons (edited)

I could not agree more with the reviews already posted here. I initially accepted this job because I wanted to work in the mountains, and had heard that Anakeesta was the up and coming new theme park. -Let me just start by saying that the way my show and role was described to me when I accepted the offer was not really at ALL what we were actually performing. The way it had been described to me was one of the main reasons why I took the contract. Sadly, the first day I arrived I realized I was in for quite the opposite. -I can echo the person ahead of me: There is no sheet music, the director would literally sit there with us and make a harmony up on the spot and then tell us to get out our voice memos and record it. And then would get upset if certain cast members could not remember the harmony the next day. He also bragged about the fact that AI had rewritten all the lyrics to our pop songs in our show. -When we started the contract, it was still quite cold outside, and we wearing costumes with a lot of our skin exposed. We asked for winter wear multiple times (which is very standard protocol at most theme parks) as it got very cold performing on the mountain, and he refused to give it to us saying "Don't worry, it'll get warm soon outside." -Aside from all of that, we ended up having to do "sets" out on the main strip (which is basically a family-friendly Vegas Strip in Gatlinburg where the entrance to Anakeesta is). We were essentially performing as atmosphere characters and had to mingle out with people walking on the parkway for 45 minutes at a time. This was never mentioned to us when we were hired in. This 45 minute set was done BEFORE our 30 minute shows, of which we had 4-5 a day. Because of our costumes exposing much of our bodies, we had some "interesting" interactions with tourists, and there was more than one occasion where we had to report even workers who were harassing us. Half the time we also did not have anyone from the staff walking with us, so we were out walking around downtown Gatlinburg by ourselves in skimpy costumes. Also because of this, we never knew what time it was, how much time we had left on set, and there was no protocol for people that wanted to take pictures with us, or god forbid, say something inappropriate to us. -We had to go up and down the mountain on a golf cart which took - sometimes 10+ minutes, and this unfortunately cut into our break time after our street set, leaving us barely any time to put on our show shoes and walk out to do our first show. - The terrain is not at all set up for a show. We did a show with 3 inch heels, which was a pretty dancey show. We were expected to perform on uneven cobblestone in direct sunlight in non-dance heels 4 times a day. - We would sometimes get phone calls from the director when we were at home and off-hours about things that had happened on show days. This was not appropriate in my opinion. I can also agree that show protocols (or lack thereof) are all over the place. There were several days we performed in the pouring rain with mics on our face. When looking to the sound tech or our show assistant to see if we could call the show, they never would. Show times would be altered from time to time which would mean a later shift time for us, and no-one would inform us of that until we got there and read the white board for the day. On a positive note, the choreographer we worked with was so lovely and I would work with him again in a heartbeat. Our choreo was cute and very appropriate for the show we were doing. Most everyone else on staff at Anakeesta was friendly and accommodating, but unfortunately the director has the final say in most everything we did. Anakeesta itself is a really cool attraction, and has some of the most beautiful views in the area. I would just be forewarned about the director - he does gaslight, he is pretty narcissistic, and it truly is his way or the highway. He also has no problem bad-mouthing other performers or venues in town. PROS: Beautiful mountain atmosphere Discounts at Anakeesta on food and merch Comp tickets to most every other show in town, and discounts to tons of area attractions Choreographer is a gem of a human CONS: Director Poor show conditions/protocols What you get offered may not be what you actually end up doing (edited)

I worked at Anakeesta as a performer for their summer season. Gatlinburg is very interesting and there are a ton of free attractions/touristy things to do for working at Anakeesta. That being said- you are in Gatlinburg which is about 15 years behind when it comes to what is tolerated and what you say around people. Small town redneck vibes. The housing provided is extremely nice, 2 bedroom, 2 bath split between 4 people per apartment. The apartments are a 5 minute commute to the park and even come with access to a pool and a small gym! The pay is very fair for what is expected of performers and just a bit more than other theme park experiences I’ve had. The major downside to this contract is honestly working with the management. The management is one person who “writes” (or pays an AI service to write shows for him) all of the shows and they end up all sounding more or less the same- whether audiences respond well to it or not. After all, you are in Gatlinburg so the bar is on the floor in terms of quality control. Music is taught fast and completely by ear (no sheet music at all) from the management, who is a very experienced vocalist but is not patient in the slightest. It is his way or no way- whether this is him giving acting “notes” (literal line readings that are not to be deviated from) or him changing choreo/vocal parts on the fly because he doesn’t like what was originally set and then gaslighting the performers into thinking they were wrong. Not to mention all the random protocol changes that occur without any of the performers knowing- like performing in the rain (which you are told in your offer call that you will never have to do) Luckily, you will not see him much after your first two weeks of rehearsal unless he randomly pops in once a month to give more “notes” about how the show is going. (Again, reblocks and line readings because it’s his way or the highway) No positive feedback, no thanks for our time, no check ins. The only time you will hear from him is if something is wrong or not to his satisfaction- otherwise, you won’t get him to look at you in passing. Additionally, when you get the job offer to work at Anakeesta in the summer you are definitely told that you will be performing outside. However they do not make it clear that for some performers that means a 30 minute dance show in full denim with 0 breathablity on top of a mountain in direct sunlight in the hottest months of the year. And of course the management decided to do the costumes himself- therefore there’s no asking for a different costume that is more pleasant to dance in when you’re literally dripping sweat 5 feet from guests. This past summer we had multiple instances of performers getting sick mid show and one EMS transport- not once did the director of entertainment check on these people or even ask them if they were okay. All we received was a text telling us that it was our fault for “not hydrating properly”. Overall- Positives: Interesting location with plenty to do Nice housing Decent Pay Negatives: Management Shows are what the performers make them Extremely hot in the summer and hardly any accommodations to prevent this from happening (edited)