Heather Latter
Small town, big talent!
That’s what has been said about the calibre of local performers, which will be showcased tomorrow night at the “Fort Frances Has Talent” show hosted by the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts in conjunction with its 75 anniversary this year.
“We had a great turnout for auditions [last Wednesday],” said Festival committee chair Cynthia Donald, noting 15 performances were chosen to be part of the show.
“We have a fantastic variety—singing, piano, guitar, even people showing off talent with a hula-hoop and a whip,” she remarked.
“It will be a great evening of entertainment and everyone is encouraged to come out and support these local performers, as well as the Festival,” Donald enthused.
The show gets underway at 6:30 p.m. at Robert Moore School, with admission being $5.
There also will be a bake sale, along with information about this year’s Festival.
“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.”
Donald said the committee is hoping the talent show will help give the Festival some momentum, especially since this is such a milestone year for the event.
“We really just want to encourage more participation in the Festival,” she explained,
noting entries now are being accepted.
“It’s a fun and rewarding opportunity for people to showcase, develop, and nurture their dramatic and/or musical abilities,” added Donald, stressing all are welcome to participate.
People of all ages can participate—from kindergarten to adult—in individual, duet, small group, or large group performances.
“You don’t have to have participated in the Festival before,” she remarked. “And you don’t have to have a [music] teacher or be taking formal lessons.
“If you can memorize, read, sing, or play an instrument, you can participate.”
Entry forms, along with the syllabus and resource manual, are available on the Festival’s website (www.ff-festival.com), as well as at district schools and the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre.
The divisions include French Drama, which this year will run April 7-8, English Drama (April 9-10), Piano (April 13-17), Instrumental (April 20-21), and Vocal (April 22-24).
Donald said there are plenty of different categories for people to enter.
In fact, this year the committee opened a new category for contemporary rap.
The Vocal division also includes secular, sacred, traditional, or contemporary categories while in the Piano division, there is the option to play anything from popular music to jazz, classical, or sacred.
The Drama division includes choral speaking, skits, and monologues, as well as prepared or impromptu speeches.
The Instrumental division, meanwhile, allows participants to showcase their talents on many different instruments—from guitar or recorder to saxophone or drums.
And if there’s something someone wants to do, and there doesn’t seem to be a category for it, the committee is willing to accommodate them.
“We don’t want to turn people away who want to perform,” Donald stressed.
“If anyone has questions or comments, they are certainly welcome to contact us,” she added.
All performers receive a certificate, and are eligible to take home a wide variety of awards available at all age levels and in all divisions.
Those award winners then are invited to perform in the annual “highlights” concert, which this year will take place Sunday, May 10 at the Townshend Theatre.
The cost to enter starts at $7 per entry, with the deadline to return entry forms being Feb. 20.
Entries can be sent to Festival Entries, P.O. Box 806, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3N1 (postmarked by Feb. 13) or dropped off at Gillons’ Insurance (326 Church St.) marked: Attention Festival Committee.
“We continually strive to make each year better and more exciting than the one before,” Donald said.
“We welcome suggestions from all members of our community, and encourage any interested individuals to attend meetings and become part of our organization,” she added.
Volunteers are always welcome.
For more information, contact Donald at 274-33 84 or via e-mail at mrsontario58@gmail.com
