Photo Flash: Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Hosts YOUNG TALENT BIG DREAMS Competition

Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, together with presenting sponsor The Children's Trust, are proud to announce the 2016 winners of Young Talent Big Dreams, the most widespread local youth talent contest in Miami-Dade history. A marathon of semifinal competitions for student performers ages 8-17 culminated in the finals competition held this past Saturday, May 7, at the Miracle Theatre. BroadwayWorld has photos from the big event below!

Participants competed for prizes ranging from master classes, public performance opportunities and cash awards to free tickets to local attractions and shows. This year, courtesy of WSVN CH7, the Grand Prize winner will also receive a free trip - airfare, hotel and free passes for two - to attend the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles, CA.

Hundreds of contestants attended the seven preliminary auditions held over the past three months in distinct geographic neighborhoods throughout Miami-Dade, including the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City and the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay. Participation was free, but limited to residents of Miami-Dade County. The competition featured a total of six individual categories: pop/rock/rap vocals, musical theatre/jazz standards/classical vocals, dance, musical instrument, original spoken word and original vocal and/or instrumental composition. Group categories (six or fewer members) included dance and band/vocal group.

The semifinals and finals were held before a live audience. Each act was allotted up to one minute during their preliminary audition performance, and was given two minutes for the semifinal and final-round performance. Contestants in each performance category from each audition location competed in the semifinals, and up to five acts in each individual category and up to three acts in each group category advanced to the finals. A winner in each category and an overall winner were selected.

"Actors' Playhouse is proud of our Young Talent Big Dreams talent contest, which engages children to develop their individual skills and future performing arts careers," said Barbara S. Stein, executive producing director of Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. "We are grateful for the ongoing support and partnership of presenting sponsor The Children's Trust, and Wells Fargo Bank, sponsor of the finals."

Young Talent Big Dreams follows the popular TV talent show model. Judges have included a host of industry professionals from the performing arts community. The judges for the finals on May 7 included: Miami Herald Feature Writer Howard Cohen; Actors' Playhouse Artistic Director David Arisco; PATH Executive Director Natalie Lewis-Schere; WSVN CH7 Anchor Christine Cruz; and Miami Dade College Music, Theatre and Dance Department Chairman Rodester Brandon.

"Parents and grandparents deserve to take a bow of their own," said James R. Haj, president and CEO of The Children's Trust. "As a career educator and a father, I know the kind of time commitment needed to support children in developing their talents, which is critical to their overall growth and success."

The 2016 Young Talent Big Dreams contest winners include:

Individual Vocal - Musical Theatre/Jazz/Classical and Overall Grand Prize Winner

Francesca Winer, 15, Miami Arts Charter School

Individual Dance Winner

Jezabel Espinoza, 15, Miami Arts Studio 6-12 at Zelda Glazer

Individual Original Spoken Word Winner

Kourtney Wallace, 16, Miami Dade College School for Advanced Studies

Individual Vocal - Pop/Rock/Rap Winner

Carolina Rivero, 16, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy

Individual Original Composition Winner

Ayden Hassenberg, 16, Robert Morgan Educational Center

Individual Musical Instrument Winner

Gabriella Zaken, 11, Norman S. Edelcup/Sunny Isles Beach K-8 Center

Group Dance Winner

Dynasty Step Team

Jada Newball, 16; Darius Forshee, 15; Jamyah Fils-Aime, 16; Mishael Norvil, 13; Nyra Taylor, 16; all students at Miami Norland Senior High School

Bands/Group Vocal Winner

M.O.B.

Esteban Urizar, 12, Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School; Jonathan Otanio, 17, Miami Southridge Senior High School; Jonatan Issac, 17, Arthur & Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts; Matteo Rodriguez, 14, Miami Southridge Senior High School; Luis Alvarez, 17, Miami Southridge Senior High School

For more information, visit www.actorsplayhouse.org or call 211. To learn more about The Children's Trust, visit www.thechildrenstrust.org.

Photo Credit: Gregory F. Reed

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