Help Us Prove Wharton's Got Talent
Open auditions for Wharton's Got Talent 2012, the third edition of the Plaza Theatre's no-holds-barred, all-comers-welcome talent competition, will be held at the Plaza, 120 South Houston Street in Wharton, at 6 p.m. January 6 for contestants age 14 and younger and January 7 for age 15 and up. The application fee is $25.
Senior division contestants are vying for the three top prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250. The first-place winner in the junior division will receive $500, while the second- and third-place winners will receive kid-friendly, parent-approved gifts.
Contestants may be professionals or amateurs. Back-up musicians do not need to meet the age requirements. Audition performances must be no longer than three minutes or the act will be disqualified, forfeiting the application fee. During Round One Preliminaries on January 13 (junior division) and January 14 (senior division), audience votes and judges' rankings will determine which acts compete in Round Two on January 20 (junior) and January 21 (senior). The finalists emerging from those match-ups will face off in the Finals to be held on January 29.
The competition is a benefit for the Light Up The Square Fund for the ongoing restoration of the historic Plaza Theatre.
Rules & Schedule of Events
AUDITIONS
Junior division (age 14 and under): January 6 at 6 p.m. at the Plaza Theatre, 120 South Houston Street, Wharton.
Senior division (age 15 and up): January 7 at 6 p.m. at the Plaza.
$25 application fee.
Performers of all types can enter . . . but only twenty in each age division go on to the first Preliminary round. Contestants may be professional or amateur, and acts may contain any number of performers (accompanists do not have to meet the age requirement but, if so, will not share in any prize). Performances must be three minutes or less or be disqualified, with the application fee being forfeited.
Vocalists may accompany themselves or bring someone to play keyboard (provided) or guitar (amp provided). CD accompaniment (no lead vocals) is also permitted. We will provide a lead guitar amp, full-size keyboard (piano only), and microphones (up to four vocal and two instrumental). In order to prevent delays between acts, set-up time is limited to five minutes or less. Acts that exceed the time limit will be disqualified, with the application fee being forfeited.
PRELIMINARIES
Round 1
Tickets $5*
Junior division: January 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza.
Senior division: January 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza.
Audience votes and judges’ rankings will determine the fifteen contestants who will advance to Round 2. Each performance is limited to no more than five minutes set-up time and three minutes of performance. Acts that exceed the time limits will be disqualified.
Round 2
Tickets $5*
Junior division: January 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza.
Senior division: January 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza.
Audience votes and judges’ rankings will determine the eight contestants who will advance to the Finals. Each performance is limited to no more than five minutes set-up time and three minutes of performance. Acts that exceed the time limits will be disqualified.
FINALS
Tickets $10*
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Plaza.
Acts may last up to five minutes. Audience votes and judges’ rankings will determine the winners.
** THE FINALS ARE SOLD OUT! **
PRIZES
Junior division: $500 first prize, merchandise for second and third prizes.
Senior division: $1,000 first prize, $500 second prize, $250 third prize.
