Winners named for Fox Valley Rep's annual Got Talent?

More than 20 talented youth and their friends and families filled the Pheasant Run Mainstage Theater for Fox Valley Repertory's third annual Got Talent contest June 13. It was an afternoon of acoustic guitar, original rap music, classic musical theater renditions, and an abundance of energy from participants, age 8 to 18.

While getting the chance to perform on stage in front of an audience, these young participants also received critiques of their performances by casting professionals from some of Chicago's biggest theaters and talent agencies.

The judges included talent agent Jim McCaffrey of Stewart Talent, casting director AJ Links of Paskal Rudnicke casting, and casting assistant Laura Durham of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

First to fourth grade

• First place, Madeline Conter, 10, of Streamwood with "The Girl in 14G" by Kristin Chenoweth

• Second place, Madeline Hotham, 10, of Batavia with "A Broken Old Doll" from "A Little Princess"

• Third place, David Mikel, 9, of Elgin with an original rap song.

Fifth to eighth grade

• First place, Lilly Nowak, 12, of Geneva with "Live Outloud" from "The Little Princess"

• Second place, Megan Styrna, 14, of Geneva with "Don't Rain on My Parade" from "Funny Girl"

• Third place, Ava Beydoun, 11, of St. Charles with "Now I See the Light" from "Tangled"

Ninth to 11th grade

• First place, Jon Mikel, 18, of Elgin with "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran

• Second place, San Star Sandberg, 18, of Geneva with "Good Morning Baltimore" from "Hairspray"

• Third place, Jake Mikel, 15, of Elgin with "What Do I Need With Love" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

In addition to having the opportunity to be discovered by a casting professional, the top three winners received prizes. First place includes a value of $500 in prizes including $100 cash, free photo shoot session with Tracy Whiteside Photography, Academy class gift certificate, trophy, and tickets to see a Fox Valley Rep Mainstage performance.

The Fox Valley Repertory Performing Arts Academy is a nonprofit organization and features some of the Chicago area's most respected teachers, directors, actors and musicians. Home to more than 1,000 local youth students, it offers the most extensive curriculum in the Fox Valley area: classes, camps, workshops, youth ensemble productions, and internship programs. For information, visit www.foxvalleyrepacademy.org.