FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mary Taylor Beck
Director of Public Relations
(314) 453-0453
mary@varietystl.org
www.varietystl.org
ONE-DAY LOCAL TALENT AUDITIONS TO NAME ST. LOUIS' FIRST 'ST. LOUIS VARIETY STAR'
Individuals in the metropolitan St. Louis area will decide by majority vote which local singer, dancer or musician will be named as the first St. Louis Variety Star
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 17, 2004 – St. Louis Variety will be holding a one-day audition for eight talented local singers, dancers and musicians ages 16-years-old and above who will be competing for the title of St. Louis Variety Star. This is the first time in its 72-year history that St. Louis Variety has awarded this title. The purpose is two-fold. First, competitors will vie for an opportunity to appear “live” on the 39 th annual St. Louis Variety telethon, which is scheduled to air on KMOV Channel 4, April 22 and 23 of 2005. Secondly, the chosen St. Louis Variety Star will be awarded specific professional opportunities to perform in their area of talent at local and potential national entertainment-driven events.
Auditions are scheduled for Sunday, January 30, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Lee Theatre in the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center located on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Call back auditions are scheduled for Sunday, February 13, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the same location.
The eight chosen local singers, dancers and musicians will perform “live” on the St. Louis Variety telethon aired on KMOV, Saturday, April 23, between Noon and 3 p.m. During the telecast, everyone in the metropolitan St. Louis area will have an opportunity to vote by phone for his or her favorite contestant. Telethon viewers will be invited to call a toll-free number with a minimum credit card pledge of $10 to benefit St. Louis Variety, which entitles them to vote for their favorite contestant. Metropolitan St. Louis callers will decide by majority vote which local singer, dancer or musician will be named St. Louis Variety Star. D uring the last hour of the telethon, the winner will be announced “live” on KMOV. The general public is welcome to be part of the telethon audience in the Khorassan Ballroom of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel located in the Central West End.
Judges with extensive entertainment, voice, dance, theatre and production experience will choose the eight final competitors on Sunday, February 13. Judges include Jan Albus, Tom Barton, Sally Bliss, Roberta Cohen, Mark Krupinski, Ron Krueger II, Yvonne Meyer, Ruthe Ponturo, Denny Reagan, Nance St. James, Steve Schankman and Greg Schweizer.
“St. Louis Variety Star” application forms can be requested by calling, faxing or e-mailing St. Louis Variety at phone (314) 453-0453 X 10, fax (314) 453-0488 or e-mail www.varietystl.org . Specific audition and performance guidelines will be included. The deadline for returned application forms is January 24. A $25 processing fee must accompany each returned audition form. Upon receipt, St. Louis Variety will contact each competitor to arrange an audition time for January 30, 2005. Audition times will be confirmed in the order in which applications are received. All singers and dancers must either provide their own CD for musical accompaniment or bring sheet music in the correct key. Players will be provided for those with CDs.
Formerly Variety Club, St. Louis Variety serves children with physical and mental disabilities in the Greater St. Louis region, whose needs would not be met, were it not for St. Louis Variety's sustained commitment.
St. Louis Variety's board of director's president is Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch Inc. St. Louis Variety's executive director is Jan Albus.
Serving 1,300 families, St. Louis Variety helps children with disabilities get the help they need, each time they need it, until they reach 21. St. Louis Variety provides medical equipment, transportation, on-going development programs and a resource referral center to help children with disabilities live as independently as possible. St. Louis Variety also provides financial support for 77 partner agencies whose programs benefit children with physical and mental disabilities. Serving a total of 500,000 local children, every dollar raised in St. Louis stays in St. Louis.
Established in 1928, Variety has grown to international prominence, helping children through 51 Variety chapters in 13 countries around the world, including chapters in England, New Zealand, Israel and Canada. The United States is home to 30 chapters of Variety. St. Louis Variety is one of the leading chapters.
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