2019 St. Louis Teen Talent Competition winner Joanna Serenko Watch the 2020 Broadcast Special 2020 FINAL COMPETITION FILMED AT WatchMonday, the August 2020 10 Broadcastat 8 pm additional re-broadcast on THE FABULOUS FOX SpecialSaturday, at nineNet.org/teentalent August 15 at 7 pm also watch it online at nineNet.org/teentalent PRESENTED BY PRESENTED BY SUPPORTED BY Welcome to the 10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition! This year 122 acts representing 141 performers from 67 bi-state high schools and performing arts organizations plus homeschoolers. Tonight, the Fox Presents Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is excited to present 16 talented 10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition finalists performing on the stage of the Fabulous Fox competing for 2020 scholarships, prizes, awards, and future performance opportunities. Final Competition Yes! St. Louis does have talent! We have a fabulous night planned for you, Fabulous Fox Theatre so sit back and enjoy watching the stars of tomorrow. We hope to see you next year at the Fabulous Fox on Saturday, April 3, 2021 for the 11 th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition! Mary Strauss St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Creator Mary Strauss Board President Pat Vogelsang Judith Cullen Ben Nordstrom Associate Producer FoxPACF Executive Director Emcee Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation Yvonne Meyer Hare Steve Neale Tony Parise Director / Writer Choreographer Musical Director Mission Statement: Musical Arrangements The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation fosters, promotes, and encourages young people in the St. Louis region to discover and participate in Erica Rogers John Wolf Ryan Lilly the joy and wonder of live performances. Marketing & Outreach Manager Fox Theatre VP Lighting Designer of Operations Vision: Peter Wochniak Lisa Reynolds For young people in the St. Louis area to have more opportunities to create, Kevin Lowder perform, and appreciate live performances. ProPhotoSTL Fox Production Photographer Program Photographer Manager The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s programming includes: Bob Miano Chris Kilcullen Marla Stoker • St. Louis Teen Talent Competition provides scholarships, prizes, and Videographer Graphic Designer Marketing & PR performance opportunities for emerging talent. • Kids’ Night at The Fabulous Fox introduces young audiences to live theatre. • Broadway Master Classes encourage young performers to learn and refine St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Planning Committee: their craft from touring professionals. Mary Strauss, Tony Parise, Pat Vogelsang, Judith Cullen, Erica Rogers • Special Projects ignite imagination for expression through story, sound, image, and movement. Preliminary & Semi-final Competitions Personnel Site Coordinators: Chris Bond, Kirkwood High School; Emily Ratliff & Chris LaRose, Logan • Educational Encores are an interactive encounter with touring Broadway University cast and crew members providing the opportunity for young people to Stage Managers: Sarah Luedloff, Colin O’Brien, Josh Van Hoorebeke enhance their live theatre experience. Site Managers: Judith Cullen, Pat Vogelsang • St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards is a collaboration between Assistant Site Manager: Lindsay Mosher Accompanist: Steven Neale Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, The Muny and The Fabulous Volunteers: Becky Allen, Ann Baker, Diane Bender, Rachel Cullen, Cathy Donahue, Derek Fox. This program is designed to celebrate outstanding achievement in Donahue, Kathy Driskill, Ethan Edwards, Tom Ellis, Joan Friend, Gina Gasset, Diane Haase, high school musical theatre and is modeled on The Tony Awards®. Matt Hamilton, Phyllis Harding, Bob Harsh, Nicole Hibdon, Red Jesse, Michael Jesse, Kevin • Next Stop Broadway is a week-long performing arts program taught by Johnson, Brendan Lally, Kevin Lobsinger, Marilyn Kenton, Paige Kilcullen, Joan Lerch, Matt Broadway professionals. McCarthy, Cheri Maples, Colleen Mulholland, Karen O'Brien, Bailey Pashia, Barb Schafer, Angela Sciaroni, Dave Stephens, Raven Vaughn, Tiny Vaughn, Carl Vogt The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation thanks Robert J. Minkler, Sr. (Partner Board of Directors Emeritus), Michael J. Evans and Jane Maddox from the independent accounting firm of Marlene Birkman, Ph.D. Jenny Gupta Donna Rogers-Beard Anders Minkler Huber & Helm LLP for overseeing the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition balloting. Dr. Kenneth Dobbins Laurie Lock Wayne Salomon Danielle Durban Lana Pepper Mary Strauss Marlene Birkman, Ph.D. Dr. Kenneth Dobbins Danielle Durban 2014 – “Daring Donesha” Buhr, Fresh Start North Academy & Circus Harmony, performing an original hula hoop routine. A brief history of the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Mary Strauss, co-owner of the Fox Theatre, wanted to give the opportunity for 2015 – Tiala Taylor, Fort Zumwalt North St. Louis’ talented teens to perform on the Fox stage. In 1985, long before High School, contemporary dancer performing her own original “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol” Mary created the St. Louis Teen choreography titled “A Mother’s Love.” Talent Showcase to annually recognize and encourage talented teenagers in the performing arts to compete, win prizes and scholarships, and performance opportunities. The competition selection process and final event on the Fox stage gave participants the anticipation, hard work and thrill of a Broadway show! Fast forward 31 years when Mary Strauss became President of the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s board, she felt the time was right to 2016 – Royce Martin, Grand Center Arts revive Teen Talent and in 2011 produced their 1st Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Academy, pianist performing his original Competition at the Fox Theatre. composition “Safari Nzuri” (Swahili for “A Beautiful Journey”). Prior St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Winners 2011 – Micah Manaitai Garrido, 2017 – Christina Jones, O’Fallon Crossroads College Preparatory School, Township High School, singer, performing “While My Guitar Gently performing “I Have Nothing.” Weeps” on the ukulele. 2012 – DaJaun Johnson, Marquis Cooper & 2018 – Nicaya Wiley, Kirkwood High Virgil Fisher, Central Visual & Performing School, dancer, performing a Arts High School, performing an a cappella contemporary dance to “This Bitter tap dance as “The Cotton Club.” Earth.” 2019 – Joanna Serenko, Kirkwood High 2013 – “Two Mellow Cello Fellows” School, singer, performing “Valerie.” Christopher Halen, Whitfield School & Grant Riew, John Burroughs School, performing an original arrangement of classical/pop music they entitled “Pachelbel Pop.” And the tradition continues… Ryan Egan Performing “In“In CaseCase YouYou Didn'tDidn't Know”Know” Composer/Lyrics: Ryan Egan Tenpenny Tower Senior, Parkway West High School, Age 18 Ryan has received guitar lessons for ten Performing “Painted“Painted Lady”Lady” yearsyears atat MozingoMozingo Music/RockMusic/Rock UniversityUniversity Composer/Lyricist: Connor Fiehler andand TownsendTownsend MusicMusic SchoolSchool andand hashas beenbeen performing publicly since 2014. Ryan plans to attend Mizzou to pursue a Alexander Scheman, Senior, Lafayette High School, Age 18 Alexander Scheman, Senior, Lafayette High School, Age 18 degree in engineering while continuing to Connor Fiehler, Senior, Kirkwood High School, Age 18 play music. Parker Comparato, Junior, Christian School District, Age 17 All three have received training at School of Rock.. Alexander has been playing guitar for 12 years and has been playing in bands for six years. He has applied to Middle Tennessee State University’s music business program. Connor plans to attend college and major in music. Parker has had six years of twice-weekly private lessons with Brett Volker and various other teachers. He plans to attend Belmont and major in music composition. Kelsey Carnes Performing “I“I Believe”Believe” Composer: Clive Davis Lyricists:Lyricists: LouisLouis Biancaniello,Biancaniello, TamyraTamyra Gray,Gray, Sam Watters Better Than the Last Choreographer: Kelsey Carnes Performing “God“God II HopeHope ThisThis YearYear IsIs BetterBetter ThanThan thethe Last”Last” Senior, Francis Howell North High School, Composer / Lyrics: Brian Fennell / SYML Age 18 Choreographed by Savanna Reeves Kelsey has received training in ballet, jazz, Sabrina Meister, Freshman, Belleville Township High School West, age 14 lyrical,lyrical, hip-hop,hip-hop, tap,tap, andand modernmodern dancedance Grace Vitale, Freshman, Freeburg Community High School, age 14 fromfrom DanceDance Plus,Plus, MillenniumMillennium DanceDance Complex, and Broadway Dance Center. Both Sabrina and Grace have received training in Jazz, acrobatics, After high school, Kelsey plans to move to contemporarycontemporary andand pointepointe atat ExpressionsExpressions AcademyAcademy ofof Dance.Dance. GraceGrace hashas alsoalso New York to attend college to study attendedattended mastermaster classesclasses andand summersummer campscamps forfor dancedance throughoutthroughout thethe accountingaccounting whilewhile concurrentlyconcurrently pursuingpursuing country.country. BothBoth mademade thethe HonorHonor RollRoll atat theirtheir respectiverespective highhigh schoolsschools andand more intensive training to pursue a intendintend toto attendattend collegecollege afterafter graduation.graduation. professional career in dance. John Yanev Performing “Moonlight“Moonlight Sonata”Sonata” Composer: Ludwig Van Beethoven Jahnavi Vishnubhotla Arranger: John Yanev Senior, Oakville High School, Age 18 Performing “Bhatiyali“Bhatiyali