Submissions for Fox Valley Rep's GOT TALENT? Due 5/23

The Fox Valley Rep Performing Arts Academy welcomes youth who have completed 1st-12th grade to apply for the Academy's 2nd annual talent contest, "Got Talent?," sponsored by Delnor Express Care. Submissions are due Friday, May 23, 2014. This contest provides young people with the opportunity to not only showcase their abilities, but to pursue their dreams in the performing arts. The youth attain experience in performing up on-stage in front of an audience and receive critiques of their performance by casting professionals from some of Chicago's biggest theatres and talent agencies. The contest will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 10am-2pm on the Pheasant Run Mainstage and is free for the public to attend.

Judge Laura Durham is Casting Assistant for Chicago Shakespeare Theater, known for producing award-winning plays at Navy Pier, throughout Chicago's schools and neighborhoods, and on stages around the world. After judging great talent at last year's inaugural year, she is back for a second time. "This competition is a great way for young people to practice doing what they love," Durham says. "Everyone we saw last year was well-trained, confident, and comfortable on stage, and I'm excited to see everyone's hard work."

Other judges include Talent Agent Jim McCaffrey of Stewart Talent and Casting Director AJ Links of Paskal Rudnicke Casting.

Contestants are divided up into three categories based on grade level. The first category is for youth who have completed grades 1-4, the second is for youth who have completed grades 5-8, and the third category is for students who have completed grades 9-12. Contestants have the choice between performing a 1-2 minute monologue or a 1-2 minute musical theatre song. Participants do not have to be an Academy Student to apply.

Besides having the opportunity to possibly be discovered by some of Chicago's finest casting professionals, the top three winners receive many wonderful prizes. First place includes a value of $500 in prizes including $100 cash, free photo shoot session with Tracy Whiteside Photography, Academy class gift certificate, trophy, and tickets to see a Fox Valley Rep Mainstage performance. All non-placing contestants will receive a $25 coupon for an FVR Academy class just for participating.

First Place winner Madysen Simanonis was discovered by one of last year's judges after winning the high school division with her rendition of The Little Mermaid's "Part of Your World." She was invited to audition for Broadway in Chicago's "Rudolph" and successfully landed a role in the ensemble.

The Fox Valley Repertory Performing Arts Academy is a non-profit organization and features some of the Chicago area's most respected teachers, directors, actors and musicians. It is home to over 1,000 local youth students and offers the most extensive curriculum in the Fox Valley area: classes, camps, workshops, youth ensemble productions, and internship programs. Since 2006, the Performing Arts Academy has had over 4,200 student enrollments, offered over 300 individual classes in a variety of disciplines and presented over 20 Youth Ensemble shows on the Pheasant Run Mainstage.

Deadline for the application and $35.00 non-refundable fee must be submitted online. Participants' scheduled performance time will be e-mailed by June 2. For more information, visit www.foxvalleyrep.org/education/talentcontest.