The Foundation for Cultural Arts in San Antonio, popularly known as Las Casas, is accepting applications for its 2013 performing arts scholarship competition. Any college-bound high school senior with interests and abilities in the performing arts, living in the San Antonio community or surrounding areas, may apply for the more than $70,000 in scholarships available.

Applications, along with application requirements, audition guidelines and scholarship criteria, are available online at www.lascasasfoundation.org. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 28.

This is the fifth year the Las Casas Foundation has hosted the scholarship competition. Since its inception in 2009, the Las Casas Performing Arts Competition has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarship money in the disciplines of theater acting and musical theater singing and dancing to deserving students. Each year, nationally acclaimed theater professionals select scholarship winners based on their performances. The selection panel includes playwrights, actors, choreographers and dancers.

Four categories are featured in the competition: vocal solo, acting solo, acting duet and dance solo. Each category may award five scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Students may only compete in one category. Scholarships will also be award to essay winners and an additional $5,000 will be awarded to the overall category winner. Scholarship categories, number of scholarships, amounts distributed and dates are subject to change.

The scholarship program is designed to award financial assistance to college-bound high school seniors based on their interests and abilities in the performing arts and is open to students attending Texas public and private high schools and home schools to include San Antonio and surrounding areas.

Preliminary auditions will take place April 12-14 and/or April 19-21 at the Charline McCombs Empire Theater in San Antonio. Competition finalists will then participate in an evening competition on the Empire Stage on May 19, and, following the competition, more than $70,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

A free, non-mandatory workshop to help prepare students for the competition will be offered to students with completed submissions if a significant number of applicants want to participate. Hosted by professionals, the workshop would include audition basics, performance strategies, material selection advice as well as acting, vocal and dance coaching. Additionally, a master class for scholarship finalists will be conducted by theater professionals to further assist finalists as they prepare for competition.

For applications, event information and audition requirements, visit www.lascasasfoundation.org and click on “Scholarship.”