Tomorrow marks the return of a New Castle tradition that grows bigger each year.
The New Castle Playhouse will host its 14th annual Stars of Tomorrow show.
This yearly extravaganza has been presented since 1997 by the New Castle Playhouse. It began as a showcase for talented youth from the New Castle area but now has grown to become the premier youth performance stage for the entire region.
Students ranging in age from 8 to 18, from nearly 20 different schools and every surrounding county, will demonstrate their talents at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on the playhouse stage.
After 14 years of making this program happen, “Stars of Tomorrow” director Vaughn Hudspath promises, “This year’s show could top them all.”
“Each year we offer a unique lineup of performers,” he said, “and this year there are a lot of kids at the top of their game.”
Hudspath explains that Stars of Tomorrow is a performance, not a competition.
“There are a lot of shows out there in the ‘American Idol’ format, and that’s great,” he said, “but that is not what Stars of Tomorrow is. We are a once-a-year extravaganza to celebrate the talent our kids have.”
Andrea Schry, producer of this year’s event, said she is honored to present this show on the playhouse’s behalf.
“(It) truly has become the youth performing arts event of the year,” she said.
Hudspath credits the growing popularity of the of the show to the diverse group of talented young people who participate in the event.
“This year there is a lot of talent,” he enthused, “ranging from musicians, vocalists, dancers and even a ventriloquist.”
In fact, the lineup promises a bit of something for every audience member. Some of this year’s highlights include Jaqueline Evacho, 9, of Gibsonia, whose resume includes a recent performance with Academy Award-winning composer David Foster. Jaqueline is a pop-opera singer.
Luke Watterson, 17, of Ellwood City is a two-time national dance champion. His appearances include sharing the stage with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
“Luke is the best tap dancer in the U.S,” Hudspath said.
Lawrence County Junior Miss Sierra Bell will be there to perform a classical piano piece, and a new talent will debut this year when teenager Santino Ferresse brings his ventriloquist act to the stage.
Dr. Thomas Zumpella will conduct an all-star jazz band featuring the areas’ top youth instrumentalists, and several regional dance studios will send their top dance teams to perform.
According to Hudspath, another highlight of the show will be the program within the show presented by the New Castle Playhouse Mini Stars.
The Mini Stars are 32 young people between the ages of 8 and 18 who perform together throughout the year. On a recent trip to the area, Gov. Ed Rendell declared the group the “Official Goodwill Ambassadors of Pennsylvania.”
The Mini Stars will perform a 35-minute program titled “Flashdance,” during which they will be singing, dancing and saluting the music from 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.
“These kids really can go on to become famous.” Hudpsath said of all the performers, recalling that a few years ago the Stars of Tomorrow show was highlighted by a talented young lady named Natalie Gallo.
“Today, she is on Broadway in the musical, ‘Mamma Mia!’ ’ Hudspath beamed, adding that some colleges send drama and music department scouts to this event to identify youth for recruitment and scholarship consideration.
Many past participants have gone on to receive scholarships and achieve careers in the entertainment industry.
“We really do,” Hudspath said, “identify the ‘Stars of Tomorrow.”
Today
SHOWCASE: Stars of Tomorrow returns to playhouse
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