5th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Chooses 13 High School Acts for Final Event

ST. LOUIS - March 30, 2015 - PRLog -- On Saturday, March 28^th, 39 metro area high school acts competed in the Semi-final round of the 5^th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition (http://www.foxpacf.org/teen-talent-showcase.aspx). St. Louis performing arts professionals judged the acts and narrowed the field to 13 finalists who will move on to the finals on Friday, April 24^th at 8pm at The Fabulous Fox Theatre (a list of acts can be found on our website (http://www.foxpacf.org/teen-talent-showcase.aspx)).  These acts are one step closer to performing on the Fox Stage and winning college scholarships, prizes and performance opportunities.  The final competition is a Broadway-style show that is FREE and open to the public.  Tickets are required and available now at no charge at The Fox box office and through Metrotix.

More than $30,000 in scholarships, prizes and awardswill be distributed among the top competitors on April 24.  A full list of prizes along with official event information can be found on the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s website.  Finalists will also have the opportunity to perform at area events throughout the year. 2015 public appearances include Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Webster Art & Air Fair, National Dance Week and the Muny.

The judges (http://www.foxpacf.org/slttc-judges.aspx) for the finals have careers spanning film, TV, and Broadway.  This year’s new special guest judges are Alicia Graf Mack and Adam Crane. Mack is a former lead dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a Washington University graduate.  Crane serves as Vice President for External Affairs for the Saint Louis Symphony. Returning judges are Phyllis Smith, a native St. Louisan best known for her role in “The Office” and co-starring in Pixar’s upcoming film “Inside Out”; Ken Page, a native St. Louisan and Broadway performer; Carl Nappa, an independent producer and Executive Director of Technology & Sound Engineering at Nelly’s ex’treme Institute in St. Louis; and Megan Larche Dominick, the casting director and a producing associate for The Muny.  Students will be judged on technical ability, stage presence, interpretation and originality.

The “Audience Choice Award” will return this year, allowing the crowd to choose their favorite act.  The $1,000 cash prize will be determined by the audience at the Fox on April 24^th.

Tony Parise, Broadway actor, director, choreographer and St. Louis native, returns for his 5^th year to write the script and direct the finals. "The Teen Talent Competition is one of my very favorite events.  I love being able to work with such incredible young talent from my hometown, and present a top-notch evening of pure entertainment to an always enthusiastic audience of their supporters" says Parise.  He will be working with choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare (also a St. Louis native) to prepare the final acts to compete in front of a live audience at The Fox. Finalists include singers, classical and contemporary musicians and hip hop, contemporary and ballet dancers.

The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation reintroduced the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition in 2011 to showcase the St. Louis region’s most talented teens in the performing arts.  Student acts include singers, dancers, actors, musicians, comedians and circus skill artists competing as soloists or in groups of as many as six.  The 2014 winner of the competition was “Daring Donesha” Buhr, a Hula Hooper from Fresh Start North Academy and Circus Harmony.  Donesha will be back to make a special appearance on April 24^th.

Videos of the competition process by Miano.tv (http://www.miano.tv/mianotv_video_production/Missouri_Vid...) will be available on our own channel graciously donated by SchoolTube.com beginning in mid-March.  The past four years of stories posted provide viewers a glimpse ofwhat is in store.

The community response to this FREE event has been amazing and grown over the past four years with “sold out” crowds at The Fox.  Additionally, each year 120,000 viewers have watched the Nine Network’s hour-long program on the competition.

PLEASE NOTE:  All seating is general admission. There is a limit of 10 tickets per transaction. Seating is first-come-first-seated, and is not guaranteed.  The theater will be over-sold to ensure a full house.  Please arrive early.

Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation fosters, promotes, and encourages young people in the St. Louis region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances.