Valleyfair

Ryan Walton has a resume filled with show business experience, and at the bottom of that list is his very first job as a performer at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, MO. He worked at the park for five seasons while he was attending college, and during his time on World of Fun's stages, he discovered his love for entertaining.

"I feel like a grew up at Worlds of Fun," Walton said, "I developed into the performer that I am today because of that experience and the people I worked with at the park." 

Ryan performing at Worlds of Fun.

At the age of seventeen, this job was Ryan's first experience working on as a semi-professional entertainer. "Before Worlds, I had only ever performed in school productions. Working for a theme park allowed me to grow my skills as a performer," Ryan said. 

After graduating from college, Ryan moved south to Branson, MO, where he fueled his love for the stage by working on multiple shows. He loved the atmosphere and experience of Branson, but then he learned about a different way to perform for a living while traveling the world: Cruise Ships. 

"Working on cruise ships is a decision I wouldn't change for the world," Walton said, "I gained so much experience working on ships, and I got to work with so many people from so many different cultures. It was an eye-opening and amazing experience for me."

For the next few years, Ryan spent his time traveling the high seas or performing in Branson, MO. He racked up experience and was continuously promoted to different positions, including a vocal captain, show captain, company manager, musical director, and artistic director. 

"I always loved working for Cedar Fair, so when I saw the job opening at Valleyfair, I knew I had to apply," Ryan said. 

Ryan hopes to take Valleyfair's entertainment to the next level. He enjoys Valleyfair's entertainment line-up from last year but hopes to elevate the production quality on the stage.