Written by Carrie Edelstein

The 10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition will be aired on Nine PBS Monday, August 10, 2020- a new format for the event due to the global pandemic which postponed the competition, ultimately leading to the contestants performing for a recorded audience. The winners will be announced at the end of the broadcast which will begin at 8pm.

Sophisticated Living caught up with one of the judges, Broadway star and Tony nominee Taylor Louderman, who is from Missouri.

SL: Congratulations on your recent nuptials! What was that like in this crazy time?

TL: Thank you! It was a very difficult decision to move forward with our wedding. Ultimately, we wanted to ensure our close family was healthy and able to be a part of our special day. And we couldn’t wait to be married! We are still planning a celebration for a later date when it is safe to have everyone on the same dance floor! 

SL: It's such a strange time for Broadway now... can you even imagine if you were still starring in "Mean Girls" and had to go on pause for several months? Did you have any acting plans that have had to be put on hold?

TL: It is certainly a challenging time for the entertainment industry, but I do think it will boom as soon as it is safe to come back. I was glad to be taking a breather from the great white way and NYC when this went down. However, yes, it has put some teaching opportunities, a directing debut, and a few weeks at the Muny on hold. 

 SL: What is it like being a judge for the Teen Talent Competition and how did that relationship get started? 

TL: Wow! I am just so honored to be a judge for the Teen Talent Competition. I know it is something we tried to make happen over recent years, but the Broadway schedule is not very accommodating. So this year I was really looking forward to being a part of it and I was blown away. These kids are INCREDIBLY talented, and watching them as a whole made me so proud to be from St. Louis. Our arts are just magical and that’s what makes this such a wonderful place to live and grow up. I had this overwhelming feeling that I was witnessing the future of American culture — it was expansive and colorful and celebrated inspiration no matter how it was packaged! Art is equally reflective of our culture as it is influential, and these kids were bold and brave! They pushed boundaries and made me feel like a fly on the wall in their worlds, which is exactly what I love to experience.

SL: What advice do you have for these up and coming artists whose opportunities will be a bit of uncharted territory at least for the immediate future?

TL: I think this break from the norm is a blessing in so many ways. It is an opportunity to open our minds and hearts to even more creativity and unique stories. It’s also a chance to sharpen our tools in a safe place and come back stronger than ever! Making a living as an artist is hard, and requires sacrifices so building a strong work ethic and a mental toughness is crucial. 

SL: Having opened shows before, what do you think that first performance back on stage in a post-pandemic world will feel like for actors? 

TL: Oh my goodness, I think it will be earth shattering and magical! I can imagine the anticipation just boiling over as the orchestra tunes up, and the actors hear “places”. If there is one thing I am grateful for through all of this — is the reminder that human connection, and live storytelling is at the forefront of our wellbeing. I don’t know about you, but I miss it and I took it for granted. I can’t wait! 

SL: Also congratulations on being a 2020 graduate! What's next?

TL: Aww thank you! Goodness, I am exploring a lot of different avenues right now: writing and producing shows for young artists, looking forward to directing a show as soon as it is safe to do so, teaching, and I love learning. So I’m in a sort of “sponge” phase where I’m soaking up a lot of new things and seeing where my heart leads me. Doing eight shows a week of the same show for a year and a half taught me I’m a bit too restless for that lifestyle; maybe short stints is fine, but I need more. So we will see.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners will be announced on Nine PBS at the conclusion of the program August 10, 2020. Following the broadcast, viewers are encouraged to join emcee Ben Nordstrom and last year’s winner Joanna Serenko , a singer/songwriter and Kirkwood High School Alum, who recently appeared on NBC’s “The Voice,” for an online celebration on the FoxPACF website foxpacf.org.  The online celebration will feature a special performance by Serenko and additional prizes and scholarships will be announced including voting for the $1,000 cash prize for the Audience Choice Award. Additional details about the Nine PBS broadcast, subsequent re-broadcast, and online celebration can be found on the FPACF website and Nine PBS website along with their social media outlets.