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Performers jumping in to suburban talent contest

Contestants are heeding the call to compete in Suburban Chicago's Got Talent, a summer-long talent contest co-sponsored by the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce and the Daily Herald.

More than 50 performers have signed up since the competition was launched last Friday.

"We've had a great response so far," said Metropolis executive director Charlie Beck. "We're very comfortable that we'll hit our numbers."

At this point, 300 audition spots have been set aside on a first-come, first-served basis for the initial rounds scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 7-9, at the Metropolis in Arlington Heights.

The 20 finalists are then slated to perform at another audition round on Sunday, July 8. The top 10 will perform again on Sunday, July 22.

The top five finalists competing for the ultimate prize of airfare and accommodations to audition for a future season of NBC's "America's Got Talent" will then perform on Sunday, Aug 5, and again at the Taste of Arlington Heights on Saturday, Aug. 11, when the winner is to be announced.

Beck is pleased that the competition has picked up a couple of new sponsors (Wintrust Financial and Verizon/Nokia Siemens Networks), and that a diverse cross section of family-friendly performers and talents are already on the bill.

"There's a good number of singers, which of course we expected," said Beck, adding there are also quite a few dancers, comedians and rock bands.

"But we've also got an Elvis impersonator, we've got some martial arts specialists and I'm looking forward to a fellow who does yo-yo tricks."

For more information on Suburban Chicago's Got Talent and how to register, visit metropolisarts.com or call (847) 577-2121.

How to audition for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent

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