News Releases

Marathon Semifinals & Final Rounds in First-ever Countywide Youth Talent Competition to be Held at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Scheduled for Friday Feb. 18th & Saturday, Feb. 19th

WHAT: Young Talent Big Dreams, the most widespread local youth talent contest in Miami-Dade history, will culminate in a marathon of semi-final and final competitions for student performers ages 8 -17 following auditions in distinct geographic neighborhoods spanning six months. Participants are competing for prizes ranging from master classes, public performance opportunities and cash awards to free tickets to local attractions and shows. The contest features a total of eight categories including individual song, dance, spoken word and musical instrument, and group categories of song, dance, musical groups and instrumental groups. Hundreds of competitors will be reduced to three in each category in the finals. A winner in each category and an overall winner will ultimately be selected.

WHO: Sponsors: Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre and The Children's Trust

WHEN:
Semifinals: Friday, February 18, 2011, 7 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, February 19, 2011, 1 p.m.
Finals: Saturday, February 19, 2011, 8 p.m.

WHERE: Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre located at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, Fl. 33134

DETAILS: This is the semifinals and finals for Young Talent Big Dreams. Judges for the semifinals on February 18th at 7 p.m. include: Kelly Craig, TV and Radio personality; Howard Cohen, Miami Herald columnist; and Dr. Julie Silvera, internationally acclaimed Jazz vocalist. Judges for the semifinals on February 19th at 1 p.m. include: Howard Cohen, Miami Herald columnist; Barbara Flaten, Carbonell Award-winning dance choreographer; and Charles Reskin, trumpeter & composer. Judges for the finals on Feb 19th at 8 p.m. include: Kevin Mahogany, internationally renowned Jazz vocalist; Barbara Singer, one of the founders of the Miami City Ballet and the Assistant Dean for Academic Support at St. Thomas University; and Alfred Gershfeld, maestro of the Alhambra Orchestra and the New World School of the Arts Symphony.

Semifinals and finals will be held before a live audience. Tickets are $10 per person, per event. Call 305-444-9293 or visit www.actorsplayhouse.org to purchase tickets. A percentage of ticket sales will go towards cash prizes.

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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 63 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 main stage 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.

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.