At the 12th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, every contestant is the star of the show. For director Tony Parise, it’s his goal to make sure every performer feels that way.
“I always try to create a spirit of camaraderie, that we’re all in it together,” Parise says. “I make each one of the contestants tell me that they are the star of the show. So, whenever I’m in rehearsal, I’ll look up and I’ll say ‘Now, who’s the star of this show?’ If they don’t say ‘I am,’ then I have a talk with them. If I have 14 contestants who all believe they’re the star of the show, then I have an amazing, amazing show.”
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For more than a decade, the competition has been a space where high schoolers from around the St. Louis region can show off their gifts. Parise, a veteran Broadway actor, dancer, and choreographer, is writing and directing the final production of the competition, which will premiere on February 11 at 8 p.m. at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. The St. Louis native is working with choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare and music director Steve Neale to ensure that each of the 14 acts are performance-ready.
This year’s finalists include dancer Lexie Antolik; vocalist and guitarist Aubory Bugg; pianist Wilson Gao; dancer Kennedy Hale; circus artist Finn McNamee; vocalist Shaniya Perry; dancer Tony Pittman; vocalist Lucy Schene; pianist Kurtis Schmidt; dancer Hannah Stebe; vocalist Noah Van Ess; dancer Grace Wolf; circus artists Trifecta; and the KYPE Drum Warriors.
“It’s amazing when all the contestants get together and meet each other,” Parise says. “Even though they’re competing, they meet people that they would never, ever meet without the competition having happened.”
For Parise, it’s been especially rewarding to see those interactions take place this year. Because the competition wasn’t performed live the last two years—each of the acts were filmed separately and the performances were aired by Nine PBS—there weren’t many opportunities to mingle and collaborate. For some of the returning contestants from last year, this will be their first time performing for a live audience at the Fox. Parise says it has been exciting to see performers experience lightbulb moments during rehearsals where they figure out things that can ultimately improve their act. “It’s very rewarding to see the growth,” Parise says.
The contestants are eligible to win scholarships, prizes, and performance opportunities. There will be $50,000 in prizes, cash awards, and college scholarships distributed among the top competitors.
“[The] best piece of advice [I can give the finalists] is to forget that it’s a competition and take that pressure off,” Parise says. “Put your soul and your love and your craft all in your art. Enjoy the performance, enjoy the experience. Don’t lose sight that it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The competition will be free and open to the public. General Admission tickets are required and will be available at no charge through Metrotix online at metrotix.com. For those who will not be able to attend, you can watch the 12th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition on Nine PBS.
