An eclectic mix of performers are expected to audition for this year’s Seniors Have Talent show.
The Sapperton Old Age Pensioners Association and the New Westminster Lions are holding auditions for Seniors Have Talent 2, which is taking place on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall. The Seniors Have Talent show will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19.
“We have already had a few people request auditions, including a ukulele group with about eight to 10 members, three Chinese dancers that were in last year and a poet,” said event publicist Vic Leach. “We are looking for any of the performing arts, and know that there is a lot of talented seniors out there.”
Performers must be 55 years of age or older and must have acts no longer than four-and-a-half minutes in length. Soloists and ensembles of up to 10 people are invited to audition on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Like the event, auditions will take place at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall at 318 Keary St.
Singers, dancers, storytellers, comics, magicians, jugglers, musicians and entertainers of all stripes are invited to light up the audition stage, with 12 acts to be selected by adjudicators as competition finalists. Thirty four acts – with performers ranging in age from 56 to 90, auditioned for last year’s inaugural event.
“Of these, 14 performances were selected to compete in the finals,” stated a press release from the Sapperton Old Age Pensioners Association. “The calibre of variety entertainment skills was astoundingly high and the audience rewarded artists with a number of standing ovations.”
This year’s Seniors Have Talent variety show will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists and the recipient of the Audience Choice award will receive a trip for two on the Fraser Riverboat Paddlewheeler, MV Native.
New Westminster resident Sue Sparlin (who shared her prize with pianist David Hamilton) took top spot in the 2013 show for her comedic take on Memory, from Cats, and also sang Till There Was You. Dan Minor, accompanied by pianist Alice McAuley, placed second for singing Old Man River, and then tap dancing and singing Smile. Sapperton resident Bryan Pickering’s guitar performance garnered him third place, while the Audience Choice award went to 88-year-old Elvis impersonator Chuck Johnston.
For more information or to reserve your audition time, call 604-522-0280.
