Time to audition for ‘Happy Valley’s Got Talent’

STATE COLLEGE — Are you a skilled musician? Can you sing like an angel? Do you make a crowd laugh with your hilarious comedic lines? If so, you’re in luck, because auditions for the sixth annual Happy Valley’s Got Talent will be taking place soon.

Tides, a support program for grieving children, will hold auditions for the fundraiser this month.

According to the organization’s website, Tides’ mission is to provide safe and nurturing peer support programming for children, teens and their families who have experienced death of a loved one. Tides also raises awareness of the needs of grieving children in the Centre Region and surrounding communities.

Tides provides referral services, adult telephone support and educational resources for families, schools and professionals in the community who work with children.

Tides hopes to raise more than $50,000 through the Happy Valley’s Got Talent event to benefit its programs.

Dancers, vocalists, comedians and others are invited to audition on from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Indigo on West College Avenue in State College. 

Separate auditions will be held for pianists and dancers from 4:40 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at The State Theatre.

Performers at the auditions will be placed into one of three age groups: 10- to 14-year-olds, 15- to 20-year-olds and 21 and older. Four acts in in each of the three categories will advance to the finals, set for Saturday, April 2, and compete for cash prizes ranging from $50 to $250.

Tides prefers all performers apply online prior to the audition dates, but in-person registration will be accepted at the auditions. There is no fee to participate. Audition information and registration forms are available at www.tidesprogram.org, or by contacting the show’s producer, Jerry Sawyer, at jvs3@psu.edu.

Sue Paterno and State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham are among this year’s judges. Serving as emcees are local comedian Fred Metzger and Jerry Valeri, of Big Froggy 101.

“The audition judges have a tough job selecting the 12 finalists because so much great talent walks through the audition doors,” said Suzanne Thompson, executive director of Tides.