Performers of all disciplines will once again have a chance at prizes, awards and a spot in the E.A. Rawlinson Centre’s final showcase, as the sixth annual Search for the Stars auditions begin March 24.
“(The auditions) are held in the theatre,” E.A. Rawlinson Centre marketing director Linda Jensen said. “It’s important for us that they are actually performing on the stage.”
More than 40 acts have already signed up, though the registration deadline is March 22. Jensen projects that the number of acts this year will be in excess of 60, which is consistent with past years. About 20 acts will qualify for the final showcase on May 23.
Each act will have to perform before a panel of judges, which will comprise of Chip McDaniel, Roy Sydiaha and Kim Fontaine. Jensen said the judges must be well-versed in the performing arts, as well as have the skill sets necessary to give advice, nurture and teach.
With any kind of performance art being allowed to enter, it’s essential for the judges to have experience in a variety of areas.
“We really do put it out there that whatever young people are doing in terms of performance art, we want to see it,” Jensen said.
Youth five to 18 years old are eligible to register for auditions. Auditions will be done privately, though Jensen emphasized that judges will base their score on what they see during the audition and not on the potential of a performer.
“Preparation for that audition is very important, because it’s a moment in time,” she said.
Following each audition, the judges will make suggestions to the performers regarding their acts.
“The whole thing behind Search for the Stars is we want it to be a learning experience right from the audition forward,” Jensen said. “Many people do not go forward, but we want that to be a learning experience in itself. If a child has never auditioned for something before, this is a very valuable exercise.”
Jensen will transcribe the judges’ comments and send them out as written documents within a month after the audition.
“Even if they only go as far as the audition, they’re going to leave there No. 1 with the experience of performing on a big stage ... plus they have comments and written information that goes with them,” she said.
Those who do advance will be afforded an educational day with the judges. As well, they will perform at the final showcase, where cash prizes will be awarded to a novice star, junior star, senior star and songwriter of the year.
The songwriter of the year will also be given the opportunity to record a song in radio quality if a minimum pre-determined score is met.
“Every person who has received the songwriter of the year award has also achieved the recording,” Jensen said. “And it’s a recording of that song that they performed with.”
A lineup of the acts will be released around a week after the auditions, once there is confirmation from all those that have been selected.
Anyone interested in registering should call 306-765-1270 Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
