Staff
The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts committee is hoping talented performers of all ages will audition for its talent show.
The group is hosting a “Fort Frances Has Talent” fundraiser in celebration of its 75th anniversary.
Auditions are set for Wednesday (Jan. 14) at 5 p.m. at Robert Moore School, with the talent show going there Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
“I’ve had a few people indicate to me that they will be auditioning,” noted committee chair Cynthia Donald.
But she hopes more are planning to come out Wednesday.
“We thought it would be a good way to help performers, both seasoned and new, prepare for and get excited about the 2015 Festival,” Donald reasoned.
“We wanted to do something and [a talent show] really fits in with our whole purpose,” she explained.
Donald stressed people do not have to have participated in the Festival before to get involved and they can be any age.
She also hopes performers won’t be intimidated by the audition.
“They won’t be told they are not good enough,” Donald said, noting they do not want to discourage those that don’t get chosen to perform during the show.
“The idea is to encourage more participation in the Festival so we certainly don’t want to [discourage] them,” she stressed.
“What we are trying to do is create a well-rounded show so we don’t want 15 dance routines.”
Donald also said 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 noted.
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.
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 explained, 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.
Performers should come to Wednesday’s audition with their music, costume, and anything else they will require for the performance.
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.
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
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 audition can fill out a form available online at www.ff-festival.com or call Donald at 274-3384.
