Happy Valley’s Got Talent Promises Entertainment for Good Cause

A total of 12 local talents will compete during the fifth annual “Happy Valley’s Got Talent” competition and show on Saturday, March 28.

Two entertaining performances (2 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m. finals) will be held at The State Theatre in State College — the finalists range from an a capella group, to vocal performances and instrumentalists.

Tickets are $12 for the matinee, $28 for the final show and $54 for both a final show ticket and pre-show reception at The Atherton Hotel. All proceeds benefit local non-profit Tides, a support program for grieving children and families.

Over 50 people auditioned Feb. 28 and March 1 for the 12 finalist spots. Four acts in three age categories will compete for cash prizes ($250, $150, $75 and $50 in each category) during this benefit show patterned after the nationally televised show “America’s Got Talent.”

The 12 finalists, their talents and hometowns are:

Future Fame Division (12 to 15 years old)

 Halle Mitchell, Bellefonte, vocal and piano

 Kenzie McCarter, Reedsville, vocal

Hannah Richardson, State College, vocal

Sean Cunningham, State College, vocal with guitar

Rising Stars Division (16 to 20 years old)

None of the Above (NOTA), Penn State student group, a cappella

Raina Arnett, State College, classical violin

Julie Bouchard, State College, vocal with guitar

Max Wittlinger and Bennett Salter, Drifting & Morrisdale, vocal with ukulele, tophat, and melodica

Prime Time Division (21 and up)

Darlene Coulanges, Penn State student, New England & Haiti, vocal

Carrie Brandon, State College, vocal with guitar

Caitlan Truelove and Christina Kidd, Penn State students, rock violin and vocal

Branda Smeltzer, Clearfield, dance

“Happy Valley’s Got Talent” has become a night full of entertainment, laughs and moments to remember, all while raising a significant amount of money for Tides. In this its fifth year, performers from previous years have been invited to take the stage, in addition to this year’s new talent competing for the top prizes. As Suzanne Thompson, the Executive Director of Tides, states, “There is so much great talent that walks through the door.” Relax and enjoy as the performers bring down the house.

Both the matinee and evening shows will feature the same performances. The 2 p.m. matinee is geared toward families and will feature the “Kids’ Choice Awards” based on applause for each act. The 7 p.m. show will be the official competition for the cash prizes and will be judged by Sue Paterno, Jamie Bestwick (President of the Bestwick Foundation and 11 time gold medalist in BMX riding), Mayor Elizabeth Goreham, Christian Brady (Dean of the Penn State Schreyer Honors College), Dick Bundy (Soon-to-be retired Blue Band Director) and Herb Hand (Penn State Nittany Lions Football Offensive Line Coach).

Both shows will be produced by local playwright and producer Jerry Sawyer and will be emceed by local veterinarian and comedian, Fred Metzger, and local radio host, Jerry Valeri, from Big Froggy 101 and Majic 99.

In addition to ticket sales, the evening will raise additional funds for Tides through a live auction on a number of items including Jason Aldean concert tickets, Les Miserables tickets plus dinner, a day trip to New York City, and more. Visit www.tidesprogram.org to see the full list of auction items. Participants can also buy raffle tickets; prizes range from local business gift cards to an iPad mini, and are valued at over $2,000.

As the signature fundraising event for the Tides program, the goal of “Happy Valley’s Got Talent” is to raise $50,000. Hundreds of volunteers and businesses have donated their time, talent and resources to make this event possible. A complete list of sponsors is on the Tides website www.tidesprogram.org.

Tides is a peer support program offered at no cost to grieving children, teens and the people who love them in Centre and surrounding counties. Though everyone deals with the loss of a loved one in their own way, Tides was created specifically to support grieving children and teens as they try to understand and cope with their loss, to express their feelings and to find healing in their lives. Tides meets the first and third Thursdays of each month at Houserville Elementary School. Pre-registration is required and is available by calling 814-692-2233.

There is no fee to participate.

More details about Tides and the “Happy Valley’s Got Talent” show is available at www.tidesprogram.org.

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