Deadline approaching for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent
Singer-songwriter Meghan Foley of Villa Park is in it to win it for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. A 2015 Top 10 finalist and that season's online Fan Favorite, Foley has already snagged one of the 70 private auditions for the family-friendly talent competition's fifth year.
"The whole experience was awesome and I, of course, would recommend it for anybody who is interested," Foley said.
The June 2 deadline to register for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent is fast approaching, and all kinds of entertainers - including bands, magicians, comedians, dance crews and performance artists - are encouraged to apply. Auditions will be held Thursday, June 16, through Saturday, June 18, at Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts.
Performers can check out the rules and sign up at events.dailyherald.com/scgt16/. For 2016, 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 and Valli Produce.
Since winning last year's Fan Favorite prize, Foley was asked by Suburban Chicago's Got Talent judge Ron Onesti to be the opening act for country star Crystal Bowersox at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.
"The crowd was amazing and it was just so cool," Foley said. "I really did learn a lot just talking to (Bowersox) and seeing what it's like being part of a big show like that because I'm so used to small gigs at bars or restaurants."
For Suburban Chicago's Got Talent this year, Foley is bringing in family reinforcements for her new band, Fenced In, which features her younger sister, Caitlin Foley, and cousin, Dominic Giase.
At stake is a top prize known as the STARter Kit. Valued at about $5,000, it includes the chance to open for a national headline act at the Arcada, career mentoring by Onesti Entertainment and professional video and still photo shoots of a live performance and production.
Online voters will select a Fan Favorite as well. After each of the first three live competition rounds, videos of the finalists will be posted at dailyherald.com for the public to view and then vote. The contestant with the most online votes after each round is guaranteed to move on, and the act with the most cumulative votes wins a Fan Favorite prize to be determined.
Audiences can head to the Prairie Center for the Arts to attend the Top 20 round of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent on Sunday, June 26.
The Top 15 and Top 10 performance rounds are at the same venue on July 17 and 31. Winners will be announced after a free concert at the Taste of Arlington Heights on Saturday, Aug. 6.