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THE SHOW MUST GO ON

BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

The 10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition will crown a winner amid challenges presented by COVID-19 pandemic

The Fabulous Fox Theatre has been on a rather long intermission amid COVID-19. However, they temporarily broke that intermission when they welcomed St. Louis teens to its stage in July to pre-record the 10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition which will air on Nine PBS Aug. 10 at 8 p.m.

The annual competition, which allows high school students to compete for scholarships and prizes, was produced by the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation (FoxPACF). The final round of the competition normally takes place in front of a live audience but this year competitors were subject to just entertaining select guests. “Guests were kept to a minimum of less than 10 per student in a theatre that holds 4,500,” stated Marla Stoker Ballenger, Public Relations for the competition. “They sat in the very back, spaced out. Housekeeping kept disinfecting (around) the clock.”

“As the saying goes ‘the show must go on!’” expressed Mary Strauss (FoxPACF co-founder and Board President). “While I am disappointed the contestants can’t perform in front of a live audience at the Fox, we’re pleased they were able to perform on stage and we are thrilled and grateful Nine PBS has stepped up to provide a platform for the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition.”

The finalists include a variety of singers, musicians, aerialists, dancers, and a juggler. A list of acts can be found at https:// www.foxpacf.org/programs/teen-talent-competition/. Broadway actor, dancer, director, and St. Louis native, Tony Parise has written the competition’s script and directed the finals every year. “I am grateful to the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation for seeing to it that this year’s contestants can move through the entire St. Louis Teen Talent Competition process in spite of the challenges of the day,” stated Parise.

Like most events or services effected by COVID-19, the teen competition, annually watched by more than 120,000 viewers, did require getting over some hurdles to make it successful.

“Our biggest challenges were safety related,” stated Ballenger. “Each act was taped in isolation with minimal crew. Everyone wore masks, kept properly distant and we cleaned throughout (the event). No shared dressing rooms, costumes were picked from the contestants’ closets (and) no shared microphones. Judging was done remotely by video from the judges’ homes.”

This year’s judges are: Audrey Kwong (Operations Manager at the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra), Antonio Douthit-Boyd (Co-Artistic Director of Dance at COCA), Carl Nappa (Grammy nominated Executive Music Producer), Taylor Louderman (Broadway Actress and 2018 Tony Nominee), Ken Page (Awardwinning Actor, Director and Singer), and Denise Thimes (Awardwinning Jazz Vocalist and Recording Artist). The finalists were judged on technical ability, stage presence, interpretation and originality.

The first, second and third place winners will be announced at the conclusion of the televised program. Following the broadcast, Joanna Serenko, Kirkwood High School Alumni and last year’s winner will be part of an online celebration on FoxPACF’s website (www.foxpacf.org). The singer/songwriter who was recently part of Team Blake on The Voice, will do a special performance. Additional prizes and scholarships will also be announced including voting for the $1,000 cash prize for the Audience Choice Award. For more information about the Aug. 10 airing visit www. ninenet.org

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Competitors in the 10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition perform at the Fox Theatre.