McCallum Theatre 2016 Open Call Competition to Begin

By City News Service:

PALM DESERT, CA - Almost 150 performers of all ages will take the stage beginning Thursday night for the 2016 Open Call competition at the McCallum Theatre, which gives Coachella Valley residents a shot at big stage exposure and a $2,500 grand prize.

From Thursday through Saturday night, 143 finalists who made the cut after a round of auditions will show off their singing, dancing and musical skills before a packed house.

Finalists had to live within a 45-mile radius of the McCallum Theatre and be non-professional performers, meaning that less than 50 percent of their income had to come from performing.

Audience members will be able to vote for their favorite performers at each of the four concerts -- to be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday night, as well as Saturday afternoon. The collective audience vote will be equivalent to that of one judge in Saturday night's final performance.

The winner will take home the Helen Turner Grand Prize. A $750 second prize, $750 audience choice award and $500 talent achievement awards will also be handed out.

According to organizers, more than $115,000 has been awarded to Open Call finalists since the inaugural competition in 1999.

The finalists will take part in a collective finale performance on Saturday.

"Each year, it's a great pleasure to help facilitate a rewarding journey for our Open Call finalists, and it's thrilling to be in a position to share their talents," said Open Call producer and McCallum Theatre director of education Kajsa Thuresson-Frary.

"Open Call continues to be an important project for us. We have a great team of artistic collaborators in place and there is so much joy and discovery involved in working with people from our own community."

Tickets are available for $27 and $37 at www.mccallumtheatre.com, at the theater box office, or by calling (760) 340-ARTS.

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