STAGE LIGHTS: An exciting new opportunity for young singers

Is there a budding talent in your family? Are you a young singer who would like to know if you’ve got the right stuff?

Drury Lane has a fantastic opportunity for young singers to compete for a cash prize and a chance to perform at a coming event at Drury Lane, to say nothing of bragging rights and an outstanding addition to your resume.

The concept is the brainchild of Drury Lane’s newest executive member, Stacey Tiller, a drama teacher at Cawthra Park Secondary in Mississauga. Stacey saw the contest as a “great idea to foster the talents of our Burlington youth” as well as introduce them and their families to Drury Lane.

Stacey also noted that “while this is a competition, we want it to be a positive experience for all applicants.”

To that end, applicants will all receive written feedback from the panel of adjudicators. In addition, those competitors who qualify for the Top 20 and Top 10 showcases will receive further coaching and feedback from the adjudicators.

Here are the details:

There are two categories. Juniors are those who are 14 and under (as of April 6), with a top prize of $300. Seniors will be 14-21 (no older than 21 as of April 6) – top prize is $500!

Each applicant will be required to provide their own accompanying music – a piano accompanist or backing track – and sing as a soloist.

The song must be from a staged Broadway musical. While there may be some songs from Disney films, for example, only those which appear in a staged Broadway musical (Lion King or Mary Poppins, for example) will be accepted.

While costumes are not required, they are encouraged. Props, however, should be kept to a minimum and restricted to items which the performer can easily carry onstage themselves. For the Top 20 competition, a stool or chair will be available upon request.

Drury Lane also requests that performers choose age-appropriate material.

A recording of your song can be submitted by downloading it onto a social media platform (Google Drive, You Tube link, etc) along with an application sent to Drury Lane, along with a fee of $20.

More details about the application process can be viewed at drurylane.ca, but, in essence, you will send your fee to [email protected], with the competitor’s name in the subject line, and fill out an online form.

Deadline for submissions is April 6.

Here’s how the competition works:

Fill out the application form, submit your fee and upload your video.

Applicants will receive written evaluation from the adjudicators, and learn if they qualify for the next round by April 10.

Top 20 performers in each category will be invited to perform at Drury Lane at an event where family and friends can purchase tickets to lend their support on Friday, April 21, 7 p.m.. Performers may choose to use their own accompanist or provide a backing track in mp3 or mp4 format. Parents and performers should note that singers will need to be present for a “tech” run-through between 12 and 5 p.m. on the April 21.

Adjudicators will then choose the Top 10 who will perform the following evening, April 22, 7 p.m. The top two competitors will be announced that evening.

Submissions are due by April 6! So warm up those young voices and take that next step into your future.

Your fans await…