Pasadena Playhouse Welcomes Finalists for JUNIOR'S GOT TALENT! Today

The Pasadena Playhouse, in partnership with Vivian Chan, President, Asian Link Marketing (ALM), welcome the 24 finalist acts for the JUNIOR'S GOT TALENT! education-focused youth talent showcase that will take place on the Mainstage of The Pasadena Playhouse. The showcase performance will be today, September 8, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. as a part of The Playhouse's Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project.

"We were so delighted by the array of talented youth we saw during these auditions for JUNIOR'S GOT TALENT!" said Executive Producer, Vivian Chan. "We were so deeply moved by the statements of each young person describing his or her inspiration. Again and again they mentioned the feelings of joy that music and the performing arts bring to them, and the need they have to express themselves and connect with others through the arts."

The 24 confirmed finalist acts (ages ranging from 8 to 17) performing in the JUNIOR'S GOT TALENT! showcase include:

Voice

Connie Bahng (Monterey Park)
Oliviana Marie Halus (Los Angeles)
Lauren Hickey (San Marino)
Karen McGovern (San Marino)
Charlie Sutherland (San Marino)
Elayne Zhou (San Marino)

Dance

Sarah Abitria (Whittier)
Sophia Cao (Irvine)
Nathaniel Chen (San Marino)
Yee Yee Ho (San Marino)
Stephanie Huynh (Alhambra)
Edward Nazrov (Glendale)
Suki Quan (Monterey Park)
Cheryl Trang (San Gabriel)
Alice Zhai (La Cañada)
Nina Zhang (Alhambra)

Symphonic Instrumentation

Melissa Brassard (San Marino)
Erica Delos Santos (Los Angeles)
Kelly Hui (Arcadia)
Josie Hung (Rowland Heights)
ChantAl Lee (Walnut)
Kelly Seto (West Covina)
Benjamin Yee (San Marino)

Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director of the Pasadena Playhouse added, "These talented kids represent not only the future of the arts, but the future of our multi-cultural highly-connected America. They are citizens of a future that is ever more engaged in sensory experiences like music, dance, visual and performing artistry that connect to a deeper human need for expression and contact. They also represent a new generation of people who blur the distinctions between professional and amateur artistry - in a world where facebook and youtube and other social media connectors can make anyone a star. In this world, creativity at the local level is celebrated, and "celebrity" belongs to the past."

The showcase judging panel includes:

Mike Eng - EMCEE (Attorney and Los Angeles Community College Trustee)
Jenny An (Dancer, Chinese Dancers Association)
Christine Antonovich (Businesswoman, Actress and Board Member of Methodist Hospital Foundation)
James A. Arnwine (Dean of Communications/Performing Arts, Pasadena City College)
Angela Fu (Singer, Actress and President, Ying Enterprises in Real Estate Development)
Angela Lai (Founder, Elegant Arts Institute)
Dr. Bill McDaniel (Music Dept. Chair of Henry E. Huntington Middle School, SMUSD)
Dr. Emily A. Moss (Director of Bands, Diretor of Instrumental Music Education, Cal State L.A.)
Richard Seymour (Founder, San Marino Summer Theatre Camp)
Gary Spatz (Founder/Creator, The Playground young actor's conservatory)
Dr. Ben A. Ubovich (Music Director, San Marino High School; Music Coordinator, San Marino Unified School District)
Alex Wong (Principal Soloist, Miami City Ballet; Finalist on two seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance?")
Rachael Worby (Conductor/Founder, MUSE/IQUE)
Rosa Zee (Educator, Dancer and Children's Behavioral Expert)

The panel of celebrity guest judges will select one finalist from each category to receive a $1,000 college savings bond. All finalists will be invited to attend master classes with professionals, and will be highlighted at special events throughout the year, such as "Juniors for Seniors" a program that connects these talented young artists with members of our senior community. "Juniors for Seniors" allows for the exchange of insight between these young people who have just set out, and seniors who have already had great journeys along the "pebble path."

The JUNIOR'S GOT TALENT! showcase will be presented in both English and Mandarin, and will be filmed and edited into a program for distribution within a regional and international television market.

The Playhouse and ALM are pleased to also partner with Five Acres, a social services organization for children and families. All Five Acres children will be invited to participate in the showcase events.

JUNIOR'S GOT TALENT! showcase will take place today, September 8 at 4:00 p.m. Single ticket prices are $10.00 each, General Admission. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

The Pasadena Playhouse's Theatrical Diversity Project was created in 2005 to support The Playhouse Artistic Director's vision to build a legacy of artistic and theatrical diversity at The Pasadena Playhouse, and is currently named the Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project in honor of its corporate sponsor. Operating under the overall Playhouse mission, governed by The Playhouse Board of Directors and a Committee chaired by a Playhouse Board member, the Theatrical Diversity Project is committed to promoting diverse programming at The Playhouse by engaging writers, actors, designers and directors of all ethnic backgrounds and providing opportunities within the craft to all age groups, on and off the stage. The objective of the Theatrical Diversity Project and its Committee is to increase and maintain diversity of talent on stage in all productions and behind the scenes on the crews, production staff, and in the box office. In addition, the committee strives to work closely with the Theatrical Diversity Project in connection with the creation of mentoring and internship programs to help youth from the Pasadena Unified School District and surrounding areas develop and achieve greater goals. The Committee is also committed to building on the relationship with the senior citizens in our community whose dedication, wisdom, and guidance we rely on in our efforts to preserve the unique history of The Pasadena Playhouse.