Acts show range in Suburban Chicago's Got Talent
West Chicago resident Alex Guzman belted out the Tracy Chapman lyric “Gimme one reason to stay here” as a top 15 finalist for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. But really it was more of a question facing the summer competition's four-judge panel watching the Sunday show at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.
Judges Ron Onesti, Lisa Soukup, Barbara Vitello and Beth Waller had to decide which contestants to keep or cut before the penultimate Top 10 show at the Prairie Center on Sunday, July 31. The performers made that choice difficult — not only due to their many talents, but also the decision of many to show off more of their artistic range from the previous Top 20 show on June 26.
One example was vocalist Sheridan Hurtig of Mundelein, who braved accompanying herself on piano for the first time in the competition to sing Sam Smith's “Make it to Me.” When questioned about that decision by host Rob Pileckis, Hurtig acknowledged that her piano playing was something she does more in private than in public performance.
As the judges acknowledged in the feedback to the contestants, mixing things up can be a risk. But they also said there were potential rewards from unleashing surprises.
“I did get to see a different side of you,” Waller said while commending West Dundee singer Rachel McPheeters, who risked singing Adele's hit “Hello.” “I saw more of a genuine flow to your voice at times that I hadn't seen before.”
Like in past Suburban Chicago's Got Talent shows, there was a mixture of covers and original material — one of which was written in response to recent events.
The family band Fenced In, featuring Villa Park sisters Meghan and Caitlin Foley with their cousin, Dominic Giase of Lombard, wrote the song “Let It Out” to be supportive of their gay and lesbian friends who were afraid of coming out. Meghan acknowledged that in light of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub last month in Orlando, they hoped the message was timely.
Also affected by recent events was the band Monk 9 (featuring Tom Repetny of Oak Lawn and Joe Kernan of Bellwood). They had planned on singing an up-tempo song, but in response to the police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge, the band opted to be more contemplative by performing a heartfelt rendition of John Lennon's “Isolation” instead.
Standing out from the mass of musicians in the show was tap dancer Brianne Cannataro of Schaumburg. She let loose plenty of fancy footwork while dancing to the Gershwin standard “I Got Rhythm.”
As with the previous round of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent, all of Sunday's performances were recorded and the videos will be posted online by Tuesday at dailyherald.com/entertainment/talent. This allows the general public to vote on their picks for the Fan Favorite prize.
The act with the most Fan Favorite votes after the 15 round is guaranteed a spot in the Top 10 (even if the judges had them slated for elimination). The act with most cumulative votes wins an entertainment prize package of gift cards from local restaurants, theaters and attractions valued at more than $600.
But the grand prize all the contestants are vying for is the “STARter Kit.” It's valued at around $5,000 and includes the chance to open for a national headline act at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles and at Schaumburg's Septemberfest. It also includes career mentoring by Onesti Entertainment with professional video and still shoots of a live performance and production.
The Fan Favorite and grand prize winners of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent are to be announced after a free concert at the Taste of Arlington Heights on Saturday, Aug. 6.
Suburban Chicago's Got Talent is co-sponsored by the Daily Herald, Onesti Entertainment, the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, Amita Health, Valli Produce and Salon Lorrene.