And Your 2016 Princess Idol Is: THE OAKDALE BLUEGRASS BAND!

The Oakdale Bluegrass Band, featuring Olivia Chapman, Cole Tilson, Stone Stewart, and Jess Langley, singing "Never Harlen Alive", won last nights Third Annual Multi-County Talent Show!

 

 

 

I don't like to clearly identify our young talents, but they and their parents and grandparents will know who they are in the photos below.

Regardless, the Princess Theatre Foundation, Roane State Community College, and everyone who had something do with this production is very proud of all of them.  It takes courage to step out on the stage they did so well.  They will get more and more used to in years to come, and maybe they will be encouraged to follow that "dream" on to bigger stages someday.

Muse Watson, representing the Princess Foundation, again spoke of "The Dream".

The Princess Theatre Foundation would like to thank the Roane and Morgan County Schools Directors, everyone at Roane State Community College, the Princess Theatre staff, and all the volunteers that help at each show, who make these events possible.

Kelsey Cate - 2015 Princess Idol

Thursday night's show started with Emery Francis, our first "Princess Idol", and Kelsey Cate, last year's "Idol"!  Kelsey also filled in at intermission and while the judges (Becky Ruppe, Bridgett DeFee, and Kathy May Martin) made their extremely close decision.  

 

This year's talent was remarkable, making it the best season yet, but there are more talented "kids" out there, so please encourage them to step forward next year. 

 

After a great (non-judged) session of "Hee Haw" style "pickin' and grinnin'" by the Oakdale Bluegrass Band, the show began with the first category:

 

MUSIC INDIVIDUALS: K through 5th Grades

 

INDIVIDUALS: 6th - 8th Grades

 

INDIVIDUALS: 9th - 12th Grades

 

MUSIC GROUPS: 6th - 8th Grades

 

MUSIC GROUPS: 9th - 12th Grades

 

After a short intermission, John Condrone (the evening's emcee) introduced:

 

DANCE SOLO: 

Haven was a crowd favorite and won this category.

 DANCE SMALL GROUP:

 

DANCE LARGE GROUP:

 

SKIT:

Stone Stewart and Jess Langley for "Rinder Cellar". 
Jason Benjamin and Kelsey Cate handed out the awards.

  

Prior to these awards, Morgan County Representative John Mark Windle stepped out on stage to marvel at the Princess Theatre and to congratulate all the participants for their courage and for their individual talents.

 

I personally think this was the best "talent show" yet, and I ask parents and grandparents, friends, and teachers of talented area children to encourage them to sign up for next year's "Multi-County Talent Show".  This very event could change a child's entire life.  All they need is your encouragement.  What a difference in self-esteem standing on the Princess stage could make!

 

And now, for what you've been scrolling down for...more photos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thanks for coming!

See you next year; same place, and about the same time!

 

Emery Francis Wins National Beta Championship

Winning the National Beta Club talent championship may be Emery's biggest accomplishment thus far, but regardless of what she does in the future, she still belongs to the Princess Theatre!

"Even though I've won greater prizes before I've never competed against such great talent," Emery said.  "There were contestants from all across the nation and I was up against bands of up to 4 people, not just individuals.  I also performed in front of a crowd of 10,000 people at the national beta conference!"

This talented Oakdale lady also won the 2014 Tennessee Valley Fair competition. 

What are her future plans? 

"My plans as of right now are to attend Roane State and sing in the celebration choir.  I'm still an undecided major but whether I choose to study music or not, I will continue to sing because it is what I love and it is part of me." 

Emery Francis will always be remembered by Princess Theatre fans as the first "Princess Idol"; the overall winner of the Multi-County Talent Show back in 2014.  Since that appearance she's opened for 2Steel Girls and Emi Sunshine, and co-hosted the 2nd annual talent event in 2015. 

We congratulate Emery in her success and wish her the very best!

What A Wonderful Time The Multi-County Talent Shows Are!

The 2nd Annual Multi-County Talent Show was a wonderful experience, and proved again this year that there is talent in the youth of this area!  As Jason Benjamin* expressed it, "I came here expecting the "normal", "run of the mill" small-town talent show, but I was blown away!"  

More about Jason in the next post.  He has been in movies, on TV, as an actor, and stuntman and coordinator, and will soon pass on what he has learned to the youth in our community.  Stay tuned!

He was right too.  The talent show at the Princess Theatre in Harriman, TN never fails to amaze those in attendance.  This area is full of talent just begging for a place to express it, and the Princess is just the place to do that!

Muse Watson was bursting at the seams with pride as he, and daughter Sophie, took the stage after intermission.  "This is what it's all about folks!"  He loves to see young people take the stage at the Princess, where he and Gary Baker first had "The Dream".  "The Dream" is being fulfilled in the youth of Roane, Morgan, Rhea, and other surrounding counties today.  These annual talent shows are the proof!

For those of you that don't know what "The Dream" is, here it it:

Please come out and support these wonderfully talented kids every time you can...they are truly worth the effort.

As Ms. Vera Scarbrough put it on Facebook:  "EVERYONE!!! HEAR THIS! The Talent Show is going to be the last FRIDAY in March every year.  MARK you calendar for 2016!!   Unless the Lord comes back, we will see you there.  We need your help: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors, businesses, schools.....to make the Princess Theatre a true performing arts center for our children!"

 

And don't forget that the "Sidewalk or Street Art" show is the Thursday evening before the big show.  It even went off this year during the rain.  There are lots of awnings up and down the street, so come out next year.  Maurice Lowery says we need to "paint" the whole street, so if we get enough interested, we'll expand this portion of the talent show!  Make it happen!

Now back to the Friday night show!

 

The 2nd Annual Talent Show kicked promptly at 6PM, with Emery Francis, last year's "Princess Idol", playing her piano and signing.  It turned out that she co-hosted the show with John Condrone, who also played guitar and sang while the votes were being tabulated.

 

 

So, getting right to it, this year's "Princess Idol" was Kelsey Cate of Sevier County!  Kelsey sang "Tennessee Waltz" and really impressed the audience.  I was even impressed with her beautiful boots!

As you can see, the news of our annual "Multi-County Talent Show" is spreading!  We might have to have multiple nights in the near future, and that would be grand!

Here is Friday night's program, so you can read the names of those participating.  I don't want to clearly identify our young talents, but they and their parents and grandparents will know who they are.

Regardless, the Princess Theatre Foundation, Roane State Community College, and everyone who had something do with this production is very proud of all of them.  It takes courage to step out on the stage they did so well.  They will get more and more used to in years to come, and maybe they will be encouraged to follow that "dream" on to bigger stages someday.

I must tell you here about how proud I am of the Princess audience.  One young lady was a little intimidated by the bright lights and faltered at the beginning of her duet.  A couple of people shouted, "You can do it!", and others began to applaud.  I was touched!  This gave encouragement to the girl and she went on to finish strong!

In a world today where making fun and "boos" are the norm, this let gives me hope that we still have good people in the world.

The Princess Theatre Foundation would like to thank the Roane and Morgan County Schools Directors, everyone at Roane State Community College, the Princess Theatre staff, and all the volunteers that help at each show, who make these events possible.

Here are the photos of everyone that was in the show, and if I left anyone out that performed, let me know.  I will add them to the post.  However, I think I have it covered!

Almost forgot Alex, who is taking a video course at RSCC.

I apologize for this post being so long, but I must try and get in everyone who was there and/or participated!