Pick up Friday's Enquirer at a newsstand for an actual size poster of Verne Troyer. | ZOOM |

        Tristaters have been buzzing for weeks about this weekend's Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati because Verne Troyer is coming to town. He arrives Sunday to serve as Grand Marshal of the festival parade, and to lead thousands of party-goers in the traditional mass Chicken Dance.

        Born on New Year's Day in 1969 in Sturgis, Mich., Mr. Troyer broke into show business in 1993 as a stunt double for a 9-month-old baby in Baby's Day Out. Stunt work took him to Hollywood, where he appeared in Jingle All The Way, Dunston Checks In, My Giant, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Men in Black, among others.

        Then came the fateful day he was cast in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as Mini-Me, the one-eighth size clone of the villainous Dr. Evil. Now Mr. Troyer fills his time posing for magazine covers, fielding offers for new projects and hanging out with Hugh Hefner. He recently took a break ­ while nursing a sore throat ­ to chat with the Enquirer about his Oktoberfest visit.

IF YOU GO

When: 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday ; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday     Where: Fifth Street, downtown, from Race Street to Broadway     Admission: Free     Food prices: 50 cents-$11     Information: (513) 579-3191     Complete schedule of events: www.oktoberfest-Zinzinnati.com     Downtown parking, routes in and out of town     How to do the Chicken Dance

HIGHLIGHTS

Today: Opening Ceremonies: noon -1 p.m. on Fountain Square     Saturday: His Royal Highness Luitpold von Bayern hosts the Konig Ludwig Weiss Fest Tent near Procter Platz from 1-3 p.m. Those Darn Accordions, San Francisco¹s nuclear-powered accordion band, plays two sets beginning at 8 p.m. at the Chicken Dance Elmo Stage on Fountain Square.     Sunday: The Lowenbrau World¹s Largest Chicken Dance and Kazoo Band, featuring Austin Powers star Verne Troyer, 4 p.m. Sunday from the Chicken Dance Elmo Stage on Fountain Square.

SHUTTLES

In addition to normal weekend schedule Metro will offer park and ride service on Saturday and Sunday. Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Fare: $1.50 one way.     Anderson Township Park and Ride (on Beechmont Avenue behind the Municipal Building.) Drop off at Fifth and Broadway.     Raymond Walters Park and Ride (9555 Plainfield Road) Drop off at Fifth and Broadway.     Forest Park Park and Ride (1160 Kemper Meadow Drive off Winton Road) Drop off at Sixth and Race.     Western Hills Plaza (behind the breezeway) Drop off at Sixth and Race.     Downtown: Metro shuttle will circulate along Second Street, Broadway, Eggleston Avenue, Central Parkway, and Race Street to improve access to remote parking lots in the Central Business District and the Riverfront event venues. Shuttle fare: 25 cents.

        Question: Have you ever been to Cincinnati?

        Answer: No, it will be my first time.

        Q: How much did they tell you about Oktoberfest?

        A: All I know right now is I'm doing the Chicken Dance.

        Q: Have you ever chicken-danced before?

        A: No, this will be my first time.

        Q: When you were promoting Austin Powers in Goldmember, you more or less confessed that you just don't know how to dance.

        A: Um, yeah. I have a hard time with choreography.

        Q: Are you planning to practice? Where do you find a Chicken Dance coach?

        A: I don't know either. Maybe they can help me when I get there.

        Q: You'll have thousands of people on the square ready to show you how it's done.

        A: Um, maybe we can have it backstage.

        Q: You have rocketed to international stardom because of Mini-Me. Did you have any reluctance about playing this part?

        A: No, not at all. I was such a big fan of the first one (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery), that given the opportunity to be part of the second one and have the third too, I feel privileged.

        Q: When you were coming into the Austin Powers movie, my guess is nobody looked at that role and said, “you know, whoever plays this part is going to end up as a big sex symbol. ”

        A: Ha! I never expected anything.

        Q: Now when we see pictures of you, there are often blond women in bikinis involved. What's going on there?

        A: It's the Playboy Mansion. I guess being in such a big film, and it being a hit, you get different opportunities. I actually did a Playboy spread, playing Mini-Hef. It was in the Millennium Issue.

Verne Troyer filmography

        • You'll Never Wiez in This Town Again (2002) .... as himself

        • Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) .... as Mini-Me

        • Run for the Money (2002) .... as Contingency Plan

        • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) ... as Griphook the Goblin

        • Bubble Boy (2001) .... as Dr. Phreak

Verne Troyer as Mini-Me | ZOOM |

        • 2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) .... as himself

        • How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) .... as band member

        • Bit Players (2000) .... as Marty Rosenthal

        • Jack of All Trades TV Series .... as Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte (2000)

        • Here Lies Lonely (1999) .... as Virgil

        • Shasta McNasty (1999) TV Series .... as Verne Valentine (1999-2000)

        • Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) .... as Mini-Me

        • Instinct (1999) .... as gorilla performer

        • Mighty Joe Young (1998) Š. as Baby Joe

        • Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: Scared Silly (1998) .... as Sundae

        • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) ... as wee waiter

        • My Giant (1998) .... as wrestler

        • Wishmaster (1997) .... as creature stage #1

        • Men in Black (1997) .... as alien son

        • Pinocchio's Revenge (1996) .... as Pinocchio double

        • Masked Rider (1995) TV Series .... as Ferbus Stunts

        Source: Internet Movie Data Base

Verne Troyer: Mini-Marshal
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