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Calling all performers!
The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts will host a “Fort Frances’ Got Talent” fundraiser next month in celebration of its 75th anniversary—and organizers are looking for performers of all ages to take part.
“We thought it would be a good way to help performers, both seasoned and new, prepare for and get excited about the 2015 Festival,” reasoned chair Cynthia Donald.
“We wanted to do something and [a talent show] really fits in with our whole purpose,” she noted.
Donald stressed people do not have to have participated in the Festival before to get involved.
“We just want to showcase all the talent there is in the Rainy River District,” she explained.
The Festival has been providing a fun and rewarding opportunity for people from across the district to showcase, develop, and nurture their dramatic and/or musical abilities for 75 years.
Donald hopes the talent show will bring about some new excitement so the Festival can continue on for at least that many more.
“We have seen the numbers of participants dropping in some divisions in recent years and it would be great to get those back up again,” she remarked.
While the Festival features drama, piano, instrument, and vocal divisions, Donald said the talent show will be open to even more options.
“Magic, comedy, gymnastics, cheerleading—anything that they think would be entertaining,” she said, though noting singing, instruments, poetry, and dance also are welcomed acts.
Each number should not be more than four minutes in length.
Duets and groups also are welcome.
However, Donald said there will be an audition process the week prior to the show.
Performers will audition with their prepared number on Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. at Robert Moore School, then those selected will participate in the talent show there Jan. 22.
They should come with their music, costume, and anything else they will require for the performance.
“We don’t want to discourage those that don’t get chosen,” Donald stressed.
“What we are trying to do is create a well-rounded show so we don’t want 15 dance routines,” she explained.
Donald also noted sometimes certain performances just aren’t quite ready.
“But with some more practice, they would be ready to perform in the Festival, which is in April,” she said.
The audition process also is a great way to test out your talent, Donald reasoned.
“You almost get a little adjudication because [the judges] will tell you if the performance is ready or if it needs more work,” she remarked.
“And if we are on the fence, we might even have call-backs.
“So we hope it will be a good experience for everyone who tries out, whether they make the final cut or not,” she added.
Donald hopes there will be a good turnout for the auditions, as well as the talent show itself.
“Things seem to slow down after Christmas and there aren’t too many events going on,” she noted.
“And by January, Festival performers are beginning to prepare their pieces so the timing is good for that.”
Donald said there also will be a slide show featuring Festival photos at the talent show, in addition to information about it.
“We will have the syllabus and entry forms, so if people are interested they can pick them up right there,” she remarked.
She noted the committee is looking to encourage more participation in the Festival, especially with it being the 75th anniversary.
As well, if people have any Festival photos they’d like to share in the slide show, they are invited to e-mail them to mrsontario58@gmail.com by Jan. 5.
The talent show also will include a bake sale, so anyone who is interested in donating baking can let Donald know.
Admission to the talent show will be $5.
Performers looking to try out can fill out a form available online at www.ff-festival.com or contact Donald at 274-3384.
