News Releases

Actors’ Playhouse to Launch Second Annual Young Talent Big Dreams, Countywide Talent Search Presented by The Children's Trust

Competition Includes Music, Dance, Voice & Spoken Word

CORAL GABLES, FL – Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, together with presenting sponsor, The Children's Trust, announce the second annual launch of Young Talent Big Dreams, the most widespread local youth talent contest in Miami-Dade. Kids between the ages of 8-17 will compete for prizes ranging from performing arts scholarships and cash awards to tickets to local attractions and theatres. County-wide competition begins in October, with auditions at five local theatres, and concludes with the semifinals and finals in April 2012. The contest will feature a total of eight categories including; individual song, dance, original spoken word and musical instrument, and group categories of 6 or less members includes; show choir, dance, vocal/instrumental and instrumental. Participation is free of charge and limited to residents of Miami-Dade County.

Seven preliminary auditions will take place in diverse locations throughout Miami-Dade, including the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, the Wertheim Performing Arts Center at FIU in west Miami-Dade; the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay; The Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater and the Joseph Caleb Auditorium. The semifinals and finals with will be held in April 2012 at the Miracle Theatre, with the finals being performed in front of a live audience during The Actors' Playhouse Kids Fest Family Weekend. Participants may compete in one individual and one group category only, and those who pre-register will be given priority audition times.

"We are very pleased to work in partnership with The Children's Trust to present the second annual Young Talent Big Dreams Talent competition. Last year's event successfully attracted 500 talented young performers with exceptional skill in many art forms," said Actors' Playhouse Executive Producing Director Barbara S. Stein. "We are hopeful that this opportunity prompts self-confidence and continued desire and effort of talented young people to continue to work to realize their goals in the arts, and in life's experiences."

Young Talent Big Dreams is modeled after the many reality TV talent shows that have gained in popularity in recent years. Judges will include a host of local celebrities and professionals from the performing arts community. Each act will be allotted up to one minute during their preliminary audition performance, and two minutes for the semifinal and final round performance. Two contestants or more in each performance category from each preliminary audition location may be invited to compete in the semifinals and up to three contestants in each category in the semifinals will move on to compete in the finals. There will be a maximum of eight winners and one grand-prize winner chosen during the finals.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Actors' Playhouse once again to provide children and youth in Miami-Dade County with the opportunity to experience what it is like to perform on professional stages; to work with theater professionals; and to compete for prizes that will grow their skills and talent," said Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez. "We received a lot of positive feedback after last year's competition and we look forward to motivating even more young talent this year to fulfill their dreams."

Participation in Young Talent Big Dreams requires parental consent and is limited to residents of Miami-Dade County. Detailed information including the audition schedule, competition rules, and registration forms, please visit www.actorsplayhouse.org or call 211.

About Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
Actors' Playhouse is the nonprofit resident theatre company and managing agent of the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Actors' Playhouse, which has brought home 70 regional Carbonell Awards for artistic excellence, is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 22 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County. In addition to its Mainstage season, Actors' Playhouse offers a year-round season of Musical Theatre for Young Audiences, a National Children's Theatre Festival, a Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program, as well as educational arts outreach programs for underserved youth, and has initiated a Young Talent Big Dreams contest for children in partnership with The Children's Trust.

About The Children's Trust
The Children's Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS

DATES AND LOCATIONS:
Times: Saturday Auditions 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
& Sunday Auditions 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 22, 2011
THE MIRACLE THEATRE,
280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL

Saturday, November 5, 2011
WERTHEIM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
10910 SW 17th Street
Miami, FL

Saturday, January 28, 2012
SOUTH MIAMI-DADE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
10905 SW 211 Street
Cutler Bay, FL

Saturday, February 18, 2012
THE MIRACLE THEATRE
280 Miracle Mile, FL

Sunday, February 19, 2012
THE MIRACLE THEATRE
280 Miracle Mile, FL

Saturday, March 17, 2012
THE JULIUS LITTMAN PERFORMING ARTS THEATER
17011 NE 19th Avenue
North Miami Beach, FL

Saturday, March 31, 2012
JOSEPH CALEB AUDITORIUM
5400 NW 22 Avenue
Miami, FL

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS SEMIFINALS
DATES AND LOCATIONS:

Friday, April 20, 2012 (to be confirmed)
THE MIRACLE THEATRE
280 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 21, 2012
THE MIRACLE THEATRE
280 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL
Time: 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 22, 2012
THE MIRACLE THEATRE
280 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL
Time: 1:00 p.m.

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS FINALS
Finals sponsored by Wells Fargo

Saturday, April 28, 2012
THE MIRACLE THEATRE
280 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL
Time: 8:00 p.m.

Performers may pre-register online and will be seen before non-registered performers.