EVERYTHING ONLINE AND WORLD’S LARGEST VIRTUAL TALENT CONTEST
Plano, Texas – NORTH TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS announces a “virtual performing arts giga- centre” as it expands programming, introduces now offerings and moves all existing programs online.
“We see other performing arts groups pulling back operations, and we’re doing the opposite” says NTPA CEO Darrell Rodenbaugh. “No longer bound by physical space limitations, we’ll be offering more classes, more rehearsals, lesson and performances than we did before the Covid19 outbreak, creating a sort of performing arts giga-centre.”
NTPA’s “North Texas’s Got Talent” competition launched to the public this week offers adult and youth performers the opportunity to “take the stage” virtually and compete for cash and other prizes. NTPA expects this online performance program to be the largest virtual all-ages talent contest ever staged.
In addition to some twenty programs already available online through its Academy, this week NTPA is launching over twenty additional online learning titles for youth and adults. These classes range from drama and acting classes, Shakespeare, instrumental instruction, dance, College Prep and more.
Rehearsals for some forty NTPA productions went “virtual” last week after extensive Director training on how best to exploit the new online medium. “In many ways, the “virtual world” is superior to live rehearsals or classrooms” says NTPA Head of School and NYU Tisch School of the Arts Masters graduate Mike Mazur. “The participant can review the recordings and analyze their performance, and the Director can hone in on the actors expression and vocality.”
NTPA’s online competition could be the largest ‘virtual’ all-ages contest in the world as adult professionals, amateurs, and moms and dads together with youth of all ages compete. The talent competition will consist of four regional competitions with host cities Dallas, Plano, Fairview and Frisco, and a global competition for north Texas and beyond. There will be 5 different age divisions per competition, ranging from entry level to a featured Adult competition. For a small entry fee, Participants can submit their video entries to any or all of these competitions, and win cash prizes and NTPA scholarships. Tickets will be made available for for online audiences around the world.
NTPA’s efforts are a part of their ‘Together We Can Beat This’ campaign, with a goal to keep adult and youth performing arts lovers engaged and productive while its theatres and studios are closed by state and local mandate.
North Texas Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit institution made up of an adult Repertory Theatre and a family of youth theatres that has become the country’s largest non-profit youth theatre organization. NTPA has been forced to cease stage operations and close its studios due to Covid19 mandates from city and state governments. “Our operational incomes from ticket sales and tuition sources constitute the majority of our income” continues Rodenbaugh. “As a small non-profit, we don’t have the capacity to set aside the kind of reserves to take on this sort of challenge.”
“We’ve been through some difficult times in the thirty years since this theatre was created” says Founder Sara Akers. “But we always found a way for our students to take the stage and have their voices heard.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Donors and patrons can find more information on ways to support North Texas Performing Arts at NTPA.org.
About North Texas Performing Arts
North Texas Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to developing the character of youth through quality performing arts education and family entertainment evolving from the Plano Children’s Theatre created almost three decades ago. NTPA is Headquartered at Willow Bend Center of the Arts in Plano and has theatres in Fairview, Frisco, and Dallas. Each year NTPA provides opportunities to more than 7,000 youth ages three to 18 years old to experience the impact of the performing arts through its “learning laboratory” training process. The NTPA vision is to enable every child, regardless of sex, religion, race, or socio-economic limitation to have the opportunity to enjoy and experience the arts, and have their voices heard onstage.