Saturday pick: Selma Arts Center offers a virtual talent show fundraiser
Have you been missing your Selma Arts Center live-theater fix? I know I have. Live performances still aren’t possible, of course, but the next best thing is the finals of the “SAC Talent” fundraiser. Here’s a rundown:
When and where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, on the Selma Arts Center Facebook page.
What: It’s an all-ages talent show and fundraiser. Thirteen finalists showcase their talents in this prerecorded production. Talents include vocals, dance, American Sign Language and aerial gymnastics.
Performers: The show is divided into two divisions, Junior (ages 2-12) and Mainstage (13 years and up). Junior contestants are: Tanzy Ivory, Xomara Jiminez, Melanie Martinez and Maliyah Williams. Mainstage contestants are: Emmanuel Ceja, Jason Pak, Marissa Brandon and Sumartra Presley (the group Fire Sign), Marisa Sanchez-Bennett, Noah Castro, Taylor Delgado, Jhony De Olivera, Nwachukwu Oputa and Josh Plowman, Lalaina and Nirina Rabetsimba, Tom and Addie Redemer (Smelling Roses) and Glenda Stewart.
Hosts: Ben Sells (who also directs) and Adam Chavez do the honors.
Prizes: They’ll be given to the top three in the mainstage division, with a $500 cash prize for the first-place winner. The top two winners in the junior division will receive prizes, including a $100 cash prize.
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Judges: Frankie Rodriguez (currently starring in “Disney’s High School Musical the Series”), Roy “The Rev” Sizemore (New Rock 104.1 DJ), Lisa Lee Herrick (Writer/Artist and Fresno Arts Council Member), and Teresa Gallavan (Selma City Manager).
Fundraising opportunity: As SAC explains it, in addition to the talent competition, participants can take part in a donation competition, with 20% of the final donation pool awarded to the person with the highest donation points. Selma Arts Center supporters can donate here. The donation contest will end midnight Saturday. Winners will be announced Sunday.
Key quote: “During these unprecedented times it’s been hard to create and explore the arts, but we as a council wanted to put something together so that people could express themselves while following CDC guidelines,” says Sells. “This is a chance for our community to come together and celebrate all our diverse talents while raising money to keep the arts alive in the Valley.”
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