Orcas Has Talent, a fresh new incarnation of the wildly popular annual Orcas Idol show, will be running its audition show on Jan. 22.
This year the show is open to talent of all kinds, not just musicians; organizers are throwing wide the doors to welcome jugglers, gymnasts, dancers – and whoever else might rumba on in for auditions.
“There is a great line up of talent that will all be vying for one of the eight golden tickets that allows them to compete in the finale show on Feb. 5 in hopes of bringing home the first prize winnings of $500 cash!” said organizer Donna Laslo.
Fret not, all ye who have loved Orcas Idol: “We still have lots of singers,” said Laslo, who called the new show “a hybrid between American Idol and America Has Talent.”
“People will still vote,” she said. “We’re in a small community; it might bring out some more performers. It’ll be a nice variety. I believe there is a lot of hidden talent on this island. This show is so great for the community to get to know one another on different levels. It’s a way for us to connect with each other, to know who’s here – for example, the quiet fellow at the post office shows up and he has this amazing, beautiful voice. This is our show; we get to enjoy and support one another, and to give children a chance to develop their talents.”
The audition show at the Orcas Grange is held the same evening as the Orcas Has Talent Junior competition, and the audience is always packed. The junior competition, for those who are not yet high school students or older, will begin at 2 p.m. Adult auditions (high schoolers and up) will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Laslo said the junior competition is “always entertaining.”
“There will be young musicians, singers, and even a magician hoping to grab the first prize of $50, plus the chance to compete against the adults for the grand prize winnings in the finale show,” she said. “The judges … are movie writer/producer Janet Brownell, dancer/choreographer Susan Babcock and the witty professor Paul Evans.”
The finalists will perform in the Orcas Has Talent show on Saturday, Feb. 5. The winner of Orcas Has Talent Junior will be offered a new option this year: not just to perform at the adult show, as follows tradition, but to compete against the adult finalists as well. With a cash prize of $500, the junior finalist just might swing for the fences.
The Orcas Island Prevention Coalition, which hosts the annual show as its main fundraiser, is also offering a raffle this year, with winners to be drawn at the Feb. 5 Finale Show. Look for raffle sales at Island Market.
Attendees may also wish to purchase advance tickets for a pizza, salad and foccacia bread pre-show dinner (vegetarian options offered) hosted by Portofinos on Feb. 5 at Orcas Center; tickets are at Darvills’ beginning Jan. 24
Ticket information
• For the Jan. 22 junior competition, tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults at the door.
• For the Jan. 22 adult auditions, tickets are $10 at the door.
• For the finale show on Feb. 5, tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for 12 and under at Darvill’s Bookstore beginning Jan. 24.
About Orcas Island Prevention Partnership
All proceeds from the show go to support the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP), a community coalition comprised of individuals, community groups and business organizations dedicated to keeping the Orcas island community safe and healthy.
From now until Jan. 22, finale tickets – and first choice of seating – will be granted to islanders choosing to become “Seat Patrons” of OIPP.
OIPP’s community initiative this year is to “Draw the Line” between youth and alcohol, drugs and tobacco by helping parents and adults become better educated and to take positive action. Programs this year include community forums; Active Parenting classes; alcohol, drug and tobacco education materials used in the schools; community and teen resource cards; the Point Blank high school prevention club; Natural Helpers, a middle grades peer helping group; and “On Applebee Pond,” which trains middle school and high school youth to teach a preschool through first grade prevention program using puppet theatre.
There are three options for supporting OIPP:
“Seat Patron”: $50 for adults, $35 for children. Seat Patrons are given early seat selection. Ticket sales close Jan. 22.
“Production Patron”: $50 or more.
“Help us cover the cost of the production ($2,500 per show) and we will thank you publicly with your name or company name listed in the program,” said Nielson.
“Prevention Patron”: $500 or more.
At the performance, large blue and gold cutout stars with contributors’ names will adorn the lobby to publicly thank Prevention Patrons.
For more information about OIPP, or to download a donation/ticket form, visit www.orcasprevention.org, call 376-4768, or email mnielson@orcas.k12.wa.us. Donations can be mailed to Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, PO Box 475, Eastsound, 98245.
