25 High Schools Chosen for St. Louis Teen Talent Showcase Semis

On Saturday, April 9th, 50 metro area high schools took their first step toward scholarships, prizes and money for their schools' performing arts programs by competing at the St. Louis Teen Talent Showcase Preliminaries. Area performing arts professionals at three locations judged the groups and narrowed them down to 25 that will move on to the semifinals this Saturday, April 16th at De Smet Jesuit High School (list of schools attached). Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome.

The students will use this week to take the judges constructive criticism and suggestions to improve their acts. Judges for the semifinals are: Edward Coffield - Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Mike Isaacson - The Muny, Paul Reuter - The Sheldon, Peter Sargent - Webster University and Ron Gibbs - STAGES St. Louis. Students are being judged on technical ability, stage presence (poise, personality), interpretation, originality, content and overall appearance.

The top ten chosen at the semifinals will not only compete in front of a live audience at The Fabulous Fox Theatre, but they get the chance to work with Broadway actor and director Tony Parise who will choreograph the finals. The finals will be held on Friday, May 6th at 8pm at The Fox and is free to the public. Tickets are available at no charge at The Fox box office and through Metrotix (via phone and online).

The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation (Fox PACF) is producing this showcase as a free gift to the St. Louis community and as an effort to both foster and shine the spotlight on the emerging talent of our high school performing art students. With the popularity of shows such as "Glee" and "America's Got Talent" as well as the St. Louis area obsession with "Where did you go to high school?" this is an event the community at large will embrace.