County’s Largest, FREE Youth Talent Competition Invites Kids 8-18 to Show Off Their Expertise in Music, Dance, Voice, Spoken Word & Original Composition

Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, together with presenting sponsor The Children’s Trust, are proud to present the 14^th anniversary of Young Talent Big Dreams – the most widespread, local free youth talent competition in Miami-Dade County. Kids between the ages of 8-18 are invited into the spotlight to showcase their skills in a variety of categories including music, dance, voice, spoken word and original composition. 

This year’s competition promises to be the most thrilling yet, with prizes that range from cash awards and performance opportunities to prestigious performing arts scholarships sponsored by SouthState Bank and the Coral Gables Rotary Club. The grand prize winner will receive $500 in cash provided by Actors’ Playhouse, and four tickets to Universal Orlando along with a hotel stay for two nights courtesy of WSVN 7News.

Preliminary auditions will kick off on March 24 and run through April 21. Semifinals will take place on May 4 and 5, and the competition will conclude with the highly anticipated finals on May 11 at the Miracle Theatre. Throughout the competition, participants will have the chance to perform on professional stages throughout the county including the Miracle Theatre, the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, and Sandrell Rivers Theater. Participation in the competition is free of charge and limited to residents of Miami-Dade County who are between the ages of 8-18 at the time of the finals. 

Young Talent Big Dreams will feature a total of six individual categories including pop/rock/rap vocals, musical theatre/jazz standards/classical vocals, dance, musical instrument, original spoken word, and original vocal and/or instrumental composition. Categories for groups of six or fewer members include dance, musical instrument/bands and vocal groups. Participants may compete in one individual and one group category only, and those who preregister will be given priority audition times.

Each act will be allotted up to one minute during their preliminary audition performance and two minutes for the semifinal and final-round performances. There will be a maximum of nine winners and one grand prize winner crowned during the finals. 

“The shining success of Young Talent Big Dreams illuminates the profound impact of this competition on nurturing artistic pathways for our youth,” said Barbara S. Stein, Executive Producing Director of Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. “As we mark 14 years of excellence alongside our presenting sponsor, The Children’s Trust, it’s immensely gratifying to witness former participants continue to ascend in their craft and flourish in their professional journeys. I can’t wait to see the artistic brilliance of this year’s performers, and the bright horizons yet to unfold.”

“Miami-Dade County is a community rich in performing arts talent, which extends to some of our youngest performers. Stepping onto the stage with courage and letting their talent shine inspires us all. The confidence this competition builds in those who perform will serve them well their entire lives,” said James R. Haj, The Children’s Trust President and CEO. “I can’t wait to see this year’s group – the talent level at every new competition is amazing. For many of them, this is just the first step in a life-long journey in the performing arts.”

Young Talent Big Dreams follows the popular TV talent show model; judges have included a host of industry professionals from the performing arts community. Past winners of the competition include Zachary Roy who reached the semifinals on Season 15 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent and Joana Martinez who achieved a Top 10 placement as part of “Team Gwen (Stefani)” on Season 17 of NBC’s The Voice. Other notable alumni include Angelina Green who went on to earn the coveted golden buzzer from judge Heidi Klum on Season 12 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent and is now a member of Simon Fuller’s pop group The Future X and Gino Cosculluela who brought home the third-place title on Season 16 of Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance and starred on Broadway as Tommy Djilas in The Music Man alongside Hugh Jackman.

Participation in Young Talent Big Dreams requires parental consent. Performers may preregister online and will be able to audition before nonregistered performers.

Actors’ Playhouse is an award-winning nonprofit regional professional theatre company celebrating more than 35 years of artistic excellence. Located in the historic Miracle Theatre on Miracle Mile in downtown Coral Gables, Actors’ Playhouse is a Florida Presenting Cultural Organization and one of 13 major cultural institutions in Miami-Dade County. The company produces five Mainstage and four professional Children’s Theatre productions annually, a year-round Theatre Conservatory and Summer Camp Program, educational arts outreach programs, and the Young Talent Big Dreams countywide youth talent contest in partnership with 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 by making strategic investments in their future. 

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS

Sunday, March 24, 2024, 3-6 p.m.

MIRACLE THEATRE, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Saturday, March 30, 2024, 2-5 p.m.

SANDRELL RIVERS THEATER, 6103 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, FL 33127

Sunday, April 7, 2024, 3-6 p.m.

MIRACLE THEATRE, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Sunday, April 14, 2024, 2-6 p.m.

THE DENNIS C. MOSS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, 10950 SW 211th Street, 

Cutler Bay, FL 33189

Sunday, April 21, 2024, 3-8 p.m.

MIRACLE THEATRE, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS SEMIFINALS

Semi-Final 1: Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Semi-Final 2: Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 3 p.m.

MIRACLE THEATRE, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS FINALS

Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 7 p.m.

MIRACLE THEATRE, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

For detailed information, including audition schedule, competition rules, and registration forms, please visit www.actorsplayhouse.org. To learn more about The Children’s Trust, visit www.TheChildrensTrust.org.

This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.

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