You don’t have to go to NYC to
find talented young up and coming performers. The Media Theatre’s summer “Vocalist”
and “Vocalist Junior” events allow local youth to shine on stage each Wednesday
and Sunday night from July 6 through August 14.
From elementary school age up
to 24 years old, the annual competition is entertaining for audiences, much
like the popular national singing contests on television. Produced by Media
Music Theatre Company, the weekly showcases provide ample opportunity for the
contestants as well, allowing them a chance to perform for large audiences
while honing their skills on Delaware County’s only professional music theatre
stage.
 |
| "The Vocalist" and "Vocalist Jr" Music Director and accompanist, Ben Kapilow |
The contestants have been
culled from recent auditions held at the theater’s new School and Dance Studio.
The actual contest performances take place at the Media Theatre, 104 E. State
St. Ages 14-24 will sing Wednesday nights at 7pm during “The Vocalist,” while
the tots and pre-teens, ages 7-13, take the stage during “Vocalist Junior” on
Sunday evenings at 7pm.
They’ll be slight changes to
the contest this year, but the format remains the same. No one is
eliminated until after Week 4 in either competition, and an extra week has been
added moving the “Vocalist” and its “Junior” counterpart to a six week series
starting this year.
“Audiences will actually get to
see each contestants grow,” said Media Music Theatre Co. Artistic Director
Jesse Cline. “We also look at this as an educational experience. So, rather
than singing one song and leaving the competition, each vocalist has the
opportunity to learn a bit more about what it takes to perform in front of an
audience on a professional stage.”
Cline, as the one constant
judge, is a part of an important process in the competition. He will have an
extra category on his ballot that will not appear on the guest judges’ tally
sheets. His added category is Individualism, which reflects his connection to
the singers each week and his rapport with them following their performances.
“In getting to know them more
than the other judges, it seems logical that I would have this extra category,”
Cline said. “There may be a week in which a young singer falters a bit, but I
will know what they are capable of and who they are. The Individualism category
speaks to the fact that each contestant is unique. Their interests and what is
best for them should come first. Each has their own story to tell in their own
way.”
The guest judges will mark
their ballots in three categories. The added category of Song Choice will join
Vocal Ability and Stage Presence. Cline will have those three, plus his extra
category. All categories will utilize a 1-10 ranking system, with 1 being the
lowest score and 10 being the highest.
Online voting will take place
again this year, not affecting any outcome until after Week Three. As with the
judges’ scoring, the online voting will also be accumulated for four weeks.
After Week 4, online scores will be tallied and the person with the most votes
online will receive an added 30 points to their total score. The additional
points may or may not assist them in moving forward. The second-place online vote-getter
will receive an added 25 points, with the third receiving 20 extra.
Vote-getters four through 10 receive 15 extra points, and those who rank 11-15
online will gain 10 extra points to possibly move them into the semifinals.
“We value our first-time Media
Theatre performers as well as those returning,” Cline said. “To have so many
aspiring vocalists from Delaware County and the Philadelphia region interested
in our programs here is a big stamp of approval.”
The top
five in each contest receive cash prizes. They are sponsored by Iron Workers
Bank. For more information or tickets, call 610-891-0100 or visit
mediatheatre.org
The “Vocalist” contestants
begin singing their hearts out with songs of their choice each Wednesday night
July 6 through August 10. They are Alexia Alvarez, 14, Media; Alexandra Battisti, 14 of Malvern; Kyleigh
Bleacher, 19, Ridley Park; Emma Costello, 14,
West Chester; Larissa Culbertson, 14, Wayne; Aidan Curry, 14, Broomall; Tori D’Ascenzo,
15, Delco; Lauren Faulkner, 15, Glenolden; Jake Faragalli, 14, NJ; William Fay, 16, Boothwyn; Elaine Ficarra, 15, Glenmoore; Troy Gartner, 18, Paoli; Moses Gonzalez, 21, Woodlyn; Kate Goodrich, 19,
Media; Toni Huegel, 14, Springfield; Carrie Hytha, 21, Phoenixville; Megan
Kaczenski, 14, Garnet Valley; Kaliegh Kahan, 16, Cochranville; Sarah Korbel,
17, Wayne; Paul Mariani III, 16, Ardmore; Jacob Mergott, 17, of Swarthmore; Sophia Newton, 15, West Chester; Hope Smalley, 19, Secane; Molly Sorensen, 15, Malvern;
Allison Sutton, 16, Hatboro; Matt Tierney, 16, Havertown; and Paul Vink, 14, of
West Chester.
“Vocalist Junior” singers will entertain
while they vie for the top five spots starting Sunday night July 10 and
continuing through August 14. They are Josh Atkinson, 12, Drexel Hill; Matthew
Bentley, 12, Thornton; Jada Bochanski, 8, Broomall; Shannon Clark, 13,
Havertown; Joseph Colasante, 13, Brookhaven; Grace Curry, 11, Broomall; Cara Furchner,
8, Glen Mills; Veronica Garrubbo, 13, Berwyn; Bridget Henry, 9, Havertown; Hayley Hughes, 13, Hockessin, DE; Ava
Kelly, 12 and Skylar Kelly, 12 of Phoenixville; Khadijah King, 7, Upper Darby;
Sadie Lock, 9, Wenonah, NJ; Sean Lock, 12, Malvern; Natalie Mancini, 9,
Broomall; Carly McGuinn, 12, Glen Mills; Fiona Moser, 13, Havertown; Amanda
Shaughnessy, 13, Wallingford; Mary Kate Vink, 12,
West Chester; Brynn Washbourne, 9, Coatesville; Abigail White, 13, Boothwyn; Carter Weiss, 11, Pike Creek, DE; and Violet Wiley, 10, Woodlyn.
Notably, Paul Mariani III is
competing for the sixth year, having started out as a “Junior” member of “Vocalist”.
Last year, at age 14, he moved into the Wednesday night “Vocalist” contest
where he will compete again this year. Also of note, Molly Sorensen, who won “Vocalist
Junior” two years ago, makes her debut in the 14-24 age category with “Vocalist”
this summer where she will compete against others in her age range and slightly
older. When she won “Junior” she was one of the oldest contestants in the
younger age category.
