Youth talent searches audition to be held at Tusculum College

Tusculum College in Greeneville will once again be an audition stop for the successful “{One} Singular Sensational Evening” event sponsored by the Mountain States Foundation and presenting sponsor, Consumer Credit Union.

The benefit concert supports the Niswonger Children’s Hospital, and foundation officials are looking for a special set of talented kids to help out with this year’s production.

            Auditions for “{One} Singular Sensational Evening {AGAIN}” will be held in three separate locations in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia in order to encourage participation from kids all across the region. Five finalists, including one featured soloist, will be invited to perform with four professional Broadway stars in an evening of entertainment at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on April 13. A number of extras will also be chosen from among the auditioning performers.

            For this year’s auditions, children ages 7 to 17 are required to prepare a Broadway song, a country song or a classical song of their choosing. Each vocalist will have a 1-minute performance time. A CD player and a piano will be available at each audition, but vocalists will need to bring their own accompanists if desired.

            Auditions will be held at the following times and locations:

  • Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m. at Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tenn., Annie Hogan Byrd Theatre
  • Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tenn., Mathes Music Hall, Room 107
  • Feb. 25, 5:30 p.m. at Barter Theatre Stage II in Abingdon, Va.

 

 For more information, call Cookie McKinney at 423-431-1224.

The Broadway performers scheduled to lead “{One} Singular Sensational Evening” are Denise DiRenzo, who has performed in “Cats,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Guys and Dolls;” David Elder, who has performed in “White Christmas,” “Curtains,” “42nd Street,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “Once Upon A Mattress;” Gary Mauer, who performed as The Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Sweeney Todd;” and Cary Miller, who has performed in “Saturday Night Fever,” “Little Women” and “Seussical.”