The St. Louis Teen Talent Competition is open to High School students in the St. Louis Metropolitan area (a 50-mile radius from the Arch). To participate, students must be enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 during the 2023-2024 academic year.
A panel of judges review each act at the end of each the qualifying round of the competition. Judges will base their scores on the following criteria:
Registration begins November 1st, 2023
Applications are online only; submit your application here:
Student performers compete in a talent category of their choice – dance, instrumentalist, vocalist, or specialty act (i.e.: actor, circus acts, comedian, magician, etc.)
The Primary Contact for each registered act will be contacted by Teen Talent to schedule preliminaries and obtain any additional information about the act’s performance, song title, and duration, etc.
Contestants will have until 11:59 pm on January 8, 2024 to submit their application.
The preliminary round takes place by category January 13th and 14th, 2024 during the following time blocks:
9:00am - 11:30am
Vocalists
12:00pm - 2:30pm
Vocalists
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Vocalists
9:00am - 11:00am
Dance Acts
10:00am - 12:00pm
Specialty Acts
1:00 - 3:00pm
Instrumentalists
3:00 - 6:00pm
Vocalists
Kirkwood High School – 801 W Essex Avenue, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Acts vary from year to year and student to student, but in general, student performers will need to bring on the day of the preliminaries:
Any additional equipment must be provided by the students and at their own expense. Please contact Teen Talent in advance to discuss technical needs at SLTTC@foxpacf.org
Once you arrive at Kirkwood High School, follow the signs to the auditions check-in table where you will receive your act’s audition number and time slot.
After check-in, performers will be escorted to the Green Room. Prior to each performance, acts will have the opportunity to work with the accompanist, rehearse, and become familiar with the audition space. Contestants must stay in the Green Room until their act’s performance is complete. Parents, teachers, and coaches are not allowed in the Green Room.
Upon entering the theatre for your audition, contestants will state their name, age, grade, and the title of the piece they are performing as an introduction to the judges prior to performing.
A panel of performing arts professionals will review each act and provide insightful feedback at the end of each performance. Scores will not be shared with anyone except the production team.
Participating acts will be scored (maximum of 33 points) on the following criteria throughout the competition:
(10 Points)
(10 Points)
(10 Points)
(3 Points)
Parents/guardians and family members are welcome to watch in the auditorium. Contestants are welcome to stay after their performance to watch the other acts.
An announcement of the acts moving through to Semi-Finals will be made on social media by noon on Monday, January 15, 2024.
Semi-Finals are a one-day competition taking place Saturday, February 3, 2024, where acts are assigned a two (2) to four (4) hour window by category.
7:00am - 8:30am
Specialty Acts
8:15am - 10:00am
Instrumentalists
9:30am - 11:15am
Dancers
11:00am - 1:30pm
Vocalists - Group 1
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Vocalists - Group 2
Kirkwood High School – Keating Center
801 W Essex Avenue
Kirkwood, MO 63122
Acts vary from year to year and student to student, but in general, student performers will need to bring on the day of the preliminaries:
Any additional equipment must be provided by the students and at their own expense. Please contact Teen Talent in advance to discuss technical needs at SLTTC@foxpacf.org
Once you arrive at Kirkwood High School, follow the signs to the auditions check-in table where you will receive your act’s audition number and time slot.
After check-in, performers will be escorted to the Green Room. Prior to each performance, acts will have the opportunity to work with the accompanist, rehearse, and become familiar with the audition space. Contestants must stay in the Green Room until their act’s performance is complete. Parents, teachers, and coaches are not allowed in the Green Room.
Upon entering the theatre for your audition, contestants will state their name, age, grade, and the title of the piece they are performing as an introduction to the judges prior to performing.
A panel of performing arts professionals will review each act and provide insightful feedback at the end of each performance. Scores will not be shared with anyone except the production team.
Participating acts will be scored (maximum of 33 points) on the following criteria throughout the competition:
(10 Points)
(10 Points)
(10 Points)
(3 Points)
Parents, guardians, and family members are welcome to watch in the auditorium. Contestants may stay after their performance to watch the other acts.
An announcement of Finalist acts will be made on social media by noon on Monday, February 5, 2024.
Before the Finalists make their debut on the Fox Theatre stage, there will be a mandatory meeting with all Finalist acts as well as a series of rehearsals. Here is what you need to know about the Finalists production meeting:
Monday, February 5th from 5pm – 9pm
The Finalist meeting will take place in the Fox Club at the Fox Theatre
The Fox Club – Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 N. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
Parking will be provided for all contestants.
All members of each Finalists act must be present along with the primary contact for each act.
Contestants should come prepared to be photographed for a professional headshot and interviewed on camera. Footage from the Teen Talent Competition will be used in the printed program, social media, and video content.
Ruffles, logos, and busy patterns are discouraged for headshots. Your wardrobe should highlight your personality without being distracting.
At the Finalists production meeting, contestants will meet with:
Scheduling expectations for rehearsals, costume fittings, and one-on-ones will be discussed in depth. Each contestant will be required to complete final competition paperwork and confirm schedule.
It is mandatory that all acts agree to and acknowledge the non-negotiable one-on-ones and rehearsal dates. Failure to comply with all dates may result in removal from the Competition.
Pizza, salad, and assorted desserts will be provided for all contestants and their primary contact.
Each member of an act will be provided with ten (10) tickets in a reserved section for family and friends. Each contestant is limited to 10 special reserved tickets – be aware that if you lose your tickets, there are no replacements.
In addition, 100 tickets will be delivered to each contestant’s high school to be distributed.
The St. Louis Teen Talent Competition is a FREE event and open to the public. Additional general admission tickets are available online or at the Fox Theatre Box Office.
One-on-ones and rehearsals will begin in March with the following schedules:
One-on-Ones
3pm – 9pm
Each Finalist Act will have one 90-minute rehearsal with the Artistic Team to rehearse, finalize costumes, props, and additional performance needs.
*Scheduled time will be provided at meeting, attendance only necessary for 1day of one on one coaching
Rehearsals
Rehearsals with all finalist acts
March 17 1 – 5pm
March 18 4 – 10pm**
March 19 4 – 10pm**
March 20 3 – 10pm
March 21 3 – 10pm
**Acts will have scheduled times and will not be needed for full length of rehearsal
Dress Rehearsal
9am – 5pm
Dress Rehearsal with all finalists
Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 N. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
Parking will be available for all contestants
The 2024 St. Louis Teen Talent Competition will take place Sunday, March 24, 2024 at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
Sunday, March 24, 2024
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 N. Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63103
Parking will be provided for all contestants
Finalists are expected to arrive at the Fox Theatre by 10:30am sharp.
Each contestant needs to bring their own mascara and lipstick, and arrive with clean hair for hair and make-up.
Teen Talent will provide snacks, water, and dinner prior to the show.
Contestants will have the following schedule prior to the show for final dress rehearsal:
Arrive at Fox Theatre
Hair and makeup for all acts
Final full-dress rehearsal
Contestants’ dinner
Competition begins
Do you have questions about the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition? We have the answers. Learn the who, what, when, and where to help make your experience one to remember!
Meet the 2024 Teen Talent Finalists and learn more about the exciting awards and opportunities this year’s talented student performers are competing for in addition to performing on stage at the Fabulous Fox!
You have the talent, and you have the drive. Are you ready to step into the spotlight for a chance to perform on the Fabulous Fox Theater stage? Registration for the 2025 competition opens in August!
Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission of fostering, promoting, and encouraging young people in the St. Louis region to discover and participate in the joy and wonder of live performances. The Foundation provides unique opportunities and develops educational performing arts programs focused on young artists such as the Teen Talent Competition.
Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation