Talented teens take stage Aug. 10 at Copley Theatre
The fifth annual Aurora Public Library Teen Talent Show Competition, set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Copley Theatre in downtown Aurora, is shaping up to be the most entertaining show yet, according to planners.
This year, the talent show will feature a rapper, two bands, a violinist, clarinetist, Michael Jackson-style dancer, Broadway belter, folk singer and more. Teens who auditioned covered everything from Van Halen to Vivaldi to “Thriller” to Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Special K, aka Scott Corchin, a KISS-FM deejay who has emceed the show for three years, keeps the show moving at a quick pace by interjecting contests and ticket giveaways. The audience never knows what he’s going to do, which makes it all the more spontaneous and fun, say the teen librarians who plan the show each year.
The Teen Talent Show committee has recruited singer/songwriter Lisa McClowry and Jim Corti, artistic director of Paramount Theatre, as judges. Corti is a Broadway actor and dancer with credits including the New York cast of “Ragtime,” “A Chorus Line” and “Candide,” as well as the national tours of “Urinetown,” “Cabaret,” and Bob Fosse’s “Dancin’.”
McClowry is a national recording artist with six solo albums and appearances on more than 25 CDs. She recently was nominated for “Female Vocalist of the Year” in the Inspirational Country Music Awards.
The competition is free and open to the public. The performers range in age from 12 to 18.
Last year’s Teen Talent Show Competition winner, Kristin Rios of North Aurora, will perform during the judges’ deliberations. A sophomore at Aurora Central Catholic High School, Rios plays guitar, ukulele and piano.
For last year’s competition, she accompanied herself on guitar to the song “Payphone” by Maroon 5. She has been competing in talent shows since she was 9 years old, and has been a contestant in two previous Aurora Public Library competitions.
Fourteen contestants are in this year’s show. In order of their auditions, they are:
Ÿ Soloist DeVaughn Sims of Aurora, a seventh-grader at Hill Middle School in Naperville.
Ÿ The band Iron Legion composed of Ryan Lantz and Tyler Daniels of Aurora, both seniors at Metea Valley High School, and Joshua Irby of Aurora, a senior at Waubonsie Valley High School.
Ÿ Soloist Kennedy Hayes, a junior at Waubonsie Valley High School.
Ÿ Soloist Alyssa Filicicchio of Aurora, an eighth-grader at Murphy Junior High School in Plainfield.
Ÿ Soloist/guitarist Shannon R. Scott of Aurora, a sophomore at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Institute in Aurora.
Ÿ Violinist Ariel Jones of Aurora, an eighth-grader at Bednarcik Junior High School in Aurora.
Ÿ Rapper Angel Vasquez of Aurora, a Waubonsee Community College freshman.
Ÿ The band Artic Rush, composed of Jose Rodriguez and David A. Tejeda of Aurora, both eighth-graders at Cowherd Middle School; Pahola Soriano of Aurora, a freshman at East Aurora High School; and Ivan Rios of Aurora, an eighth-grader at Jefferson Middle School.
Ÿ Dancer Christopher Jones of Plainfield, a seventh-grader at Heritage Grove Middle School.
Ÿ Soloist Ive Torres of Aurora, an eighth-grader at St. Rita of Cascia School in Aurora.
Ÿ Interpretive dancers Teen Top Angels, Ruby Garcia and Celeste Aguirre of Aurora, both freshmen at West Aurora High School.
Ÿ Singer/guitarist Jake Julian of Aurora, a freshman at Waubonsie Valley High School.
Ÿ Clarinet player/singer/dancer Ameea Love Moore of Aurora, an eighth-grader at Jewel Middle School in North Aurora.
Ÿ Singer Baili Martin of Aurora, a freshman at Bradley University in Peoria.
The top performer will receive a trophy. The performers, returning winner, hosts, judges and teen volunteers all are donating their time and talents to this community event.
If you go
What: Aurora Public Library Teen Talent Show Competition
When: 2 p.m. Aug. 10
Where: Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora
Cost: Free.
Info: www.aurora.lib.il.us