Meet the stars of "Sing, America, Sing"

"Sing, America, Sing," in its fifth year, will run the gamut of American musical heritage in just over two hours. The production will showcase Mike Dumey's Starz on the Rise with forays into vaudeville, big band, Motown, Broadway and contemporary and classic country musical styles. All eight of the singers have worked with Dumey, choir director for Cape Girardeau Central Junior High, in the past, and this year's cast boasts higher levels of dance training than ever before. Dumey said he picked participants for Starz on the Rise because they have great potential for the stage. He also said the troupe gives talented young people opportunities to cut their teeth in the entertainment industry with a semiprofessional performance.

Dinner shows will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Aug. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at Plaza Conference Center. There will be a special brunch show at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 15. Tickets are $35, and include the meal. Value dates, which are 10 percent off, are Friday and Aug. 15.

Mary Bauer

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? I am most proud of being in the cast of "Godspell." This was another one of Mr. Dumey's fabulous productions that I was honored to be in last summer.

What are some special skills you have? I don't have any special skills! I love painting pottery, and I am obsessed with telling jokes!

What's your dream role? My dream is to be in the musical "Wicked." I would love to play the role of the "good witch" Galinda.

What are your future plans? I am currently a sophomore at Lindenwood University. I plan to receive a degree in mass communication with an emphasis in public relations, and my dream is to work as a public relations professional at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

What's playing on your iPod? This is so embarrassing, but I don't even own an iTunes account.

What's your favorite sports team? The Kansas City Royals.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? There are too many fantastic restaurants in Cape to choose from.

What pets do you have? I don't currently have a pet, but I once had a rooster I won at school.

What is your favorite movie of all time? My favorite movies of all times are "The Bucket List" and "8 Seconds" because they are so inspiring.

What's your Zodiac sign? Cancer.

Lauren Dumey

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? The most fun I ever had in a role was when I played Dorothy in the 2008 [Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School] production of "The Wizard of Oz." Back in 2007 I played Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast" along with Matt, Brodrick and Katherine. It was a lot of fun then, so it's great to be working with all of them together again. Most recently I was involved in "Guys and Dolls" this past spring at [Cape Girardeau Central High School]. For me, being on stage is a blast, so I enjoy any show I can be a part of.

What are some special skills you have? As far as languages, I'm working on Spanish -- I'll get back to you on that one! For my role as Mrs. Potts I got pretty good at an English accent. In the music department, I have grown up with it. Being part of my dad's shows and singing onstage with him are some of my earliest memories. In the past I have taken both piano and violin lessons. I also love to dance! I have taken lessons at the Academy of Dance Arts since I was 3 and I am a member of the Tiger Dance Team at Central.

What's your dream role? If I could choose any role in any musical, it would be the part Debbie Reynolds played in "Singin' in the Rain." That is probably my favorite musical of all time because of all the amazing tap dancing, and the songs are great. If I couldn't have that, then I would want Roxy Heart in "Chicago," yet another dance show. Are you seeing a pattern?

What are your future plans? I would really love to attend the medical program at either St. Louis University or Washington University in St. Louis. I'm not sure what exactly, but I do know I want to work with kids.

What's playing on your iPod? On my iPod you can find anything from 'Lil Wayne to Taylor Swift to Lady Gaga, basically anything with a good beat you can dance to.

What's your favorite sports team? St. Louis Cardinals! Living in a house with Mike Dumey, you don't really have much of a choice.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? I honestly couldn't choose because there are so many delicious places! It depends on what I'm in the mood for.

What pets do you have? I have one crazy bichon frise named Lucky.

What's your favorite movie of all time? Anything Disney or anything with Johnny Depp!

What's your Zodiac sign? Gemini

Matt Griffith

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? "Godspell" in 2009, "Beauty and the Beast" in 2007 and "Guys and Dolls" in 2010.

What are some special skills you have? I speak Spanish, and I'm very good at country accents.

What musical do you dream of being in, and what role would you want? I would love to be in "Sweeny Todd" and play the lead.

What are your future plans? I currently attend Cape Girardeau Central High School. Next year I will attend Murray State University and would like to be a doctor.

What's playing on your iPod? Drake and T-Pain.

What's your favorite sports team? The Celtics, the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team and the Mizzou Tigers football team.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? The Outback, Applebee's and BurritoVille.

What pets do you have? I have a black cocker spaniel/border collie named Pepper.

What's your favorite movie of all time? Either "Animal House," or "Anchorman."

What's your Zodiac sign? I'm a Libra.

Clayton Hill

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? "Godspell" last year was awesome. I really enjoy musicals, and I got to clown around the whole time.

What are some special skills you have? I can sing, dance, do impressions of people and play and write music.

What's your dream role? If someone would make a musical of "Twilight," that would make my dreams come true. And everybody knows I'm team Jacob.

What are your future plans? After I graduate, I plan on moving out to Colorado to become a mountain man. Unless there are auditions for "Twilight," then I think my answer is obvious.

What's playing on your iPod? Sounds of the Serengeti. It's a blend of African music and animal calls. I love nature. That's why I also decided to blend that mix with songs from "Cats."

Who's your favorite athlete? I admire Brett Favre because he's like 80-years-old, but still gets up after every hit he takes.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? Clayton's Cook House -- it's located at my dinner table after I cook up a mean dish of baked ziti

What pets do you have? Three super dogs. They're the absolute fabtastic!

What's your favorite movie of all time? Every "Rambo" ever made, "Cats" and "Twilight" -- duh.

What is your Zodiac sign? Is Capricorn one? ... If so, that's mine.

Carson Kelley

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? I am most proud of "Godspell," which Mike Dumey produced, directed and did everything else for last summer.

What are some special skills you have? I play guitar, piano and violin.

What's your dream role? Sweeney Todd. I've never seen it, but I pretty much trust Johnny Depp.

What are your future plans? I just graduated from [Southeast Missouri State University] with a marketing degree, but I am pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.

What's playing on your iPod? I wake up to "Seaside" by the Kooks every day, that's about the only time I use it.

Who's your favorite athlete? Charlie Chaplin when he boxed.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? My kitchen table. Mom makes the best dumplings.

What pets do you have? A cat named Jeepers and a rabbit named Las Vegas.

What's your favorite movie of all time? It's a tie between "Mighty Ducks" and "Mighty Ducks 2."

What's your Zodiac sign? The April one -- Aries maybe?

Becca Rollins

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? I am most proud of being in the Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School production of "The Little Mermaid" in May 2003 because I played the leading role of Ariel, and had so much fun working with ... Mr. Dumey. I was in eighth grade at the time, and the performance is what really jump-started my love for combining singing, dancing and acting as a performer on stage.

What are some special skills you have? Some of my special skills include my ability to sing any genre/style of music, and I can also choreograph. I've been a dancer since the age of 2, and have experience in styles of ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and pom.

What's your dream role? I dream of being in the musical "My Fair Lady" ... [in the role of] Eliza Doolittle. I love the story and music.

What are your future plans? I attended the University of Mississippi for my first two years of undergraduate studies before transferring to Maryville University to start nursing school. I plan on graduating from college with my bachelor's of science in nursing to become a licensed registered nurse. But I'll always dream of being a star!

What's playing on your iPod? "Wrong Baby Wrong" by Martina McBride.

What's your favorite sports team? I love the St. Louis Cardinals because they are a winning team, and there's nothing like being in the atmosphere of Busch Stadium! I also love the Ole Miss Rebels because I enjoyed cheering for them on the dance team and tailgating in the Grove.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? I like eating at Logan's Roadhouse because the food is great and you get to throw peanut shells on the floor!

What pets do you have? I have a black cock-a-poo dog named Precious.

What's your favorite movie of all time? "The Longest Yard" with Adam Sandler because the movie combines football and comedy -- two of my favorite things to watch!

What's your Zodiac sign? Taurus

Katherine Rollins

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? Being in the "Royal Russian Nutcracker Ballet," I have been dancing in Kara Skelton's recitals for Academy of Dance Arts since the age of 3. I was in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" as a dancer in 2006, was in the stage choir of "Grease" in the high school's 2008 musical, was in "The Crucible" in 2009, sang and danced in "Sounds of the Season" and my favorite of all was portraying "Belle" in Mr. Dumey's 2007 production of "Beauty and The Beast."

What are some special skills you have? Mr. Dumey calls Brodrick and I the "golden ears." We have the capability to hear and even sing any melody and harmony of any range for other peoples parts as well as discovering our own. This special little gift makes impersonations amusing!

What's your dream role? I absolutely adore the musical "Wicked." I dream of starring as Elphaba. I believe the music in this production would provide challenge, and I like the initiative of being painted green -- my favorite color -- as well as soaring through the air on a wire.

What are your future plans? Attending the University of Mississippi -- Ole Miss -- where I will pursue a career in exercise science.

What's playing on your iPod? Lady Gaga's beatbox remix to her song "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I can say)" -- it's my current favorite song.

What's your favorite sports team? The Dallas Cowboys. I dream of dancing for The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders one day.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? If not mama's cookin', it's a little place on down the highway about 45 minutes and it's called Nana's house. They're the best cooks around.

What pets do you have? A cock-a-poo by the name of Precious.

What's your favorite movie of all time? Recently the movie "The Last Song" beat out the past favorite-movie-title-holder of "The Notebook." I liked this movie a lot, I think, because I read the novel and some of it related to my life.

What's your Zodiac sign? September?

Brodrick Twiggs

What are some theater productions you are most proud of being in? "Guys and Dolls" in March ... and "Beauty and the Beast" in May 2007.

What are some special skills you have? I can play violin, piano [and] drums, and I speak a little Spanish.

What musical do you dream of being in, and what role would you want? I would love to play the part of Fiyero in the musical "Wicked."

What are your future plans? I hope to major in journalism or physical therapy, and sing and act on the side.

What's playing on your iPod? Broadway, hip-hop, R&B, country, rock, rap -- everything!

Who is your favorite athlete? The St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols.

What's your favorite place to eat in Cape Girardeau? Olive Garden, I love Italian food.

What pets do you have? None.

What's your favorite movie of all time? "The Dark Knight." It had the right amount of everything that makes the perfect movie for me. Heath Ledger was the highlight of the movie.

What's your Zodiac sign? Libra