Veteran actor, singer and entertainer, Raymond G. Michaud has been announced as Master of Ceremonies for Darien’s Got Talent, the Darien Arts Center’s talent competition taking place on June 23.
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Veteran actor, singer and entertainer, Raymond G. Michaud has been announced as Master of Ceremonies for Darien’s Got Talent.
The popular community event features cash prizes for adults and children, and entertainment professionals as judges for auditions and finals. 20 finalists will compete for top prizes in front of a live audience at Darien High School.
Auditions for the competition are open to all ages and contestants are not required to live in Darien, but must register to audition at darienarts.org by May 11.
A Wilton resident, Raymond G. Michaud is a member of the Actors Equity Association (AEA); Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
A professional journeyman actor and singer for over 30 years, Michaud has performed across the U.S. in plays, musicals and cabaret acts. His professional acting work also includes feature films, corporate and educational videos, and voice-overs.
In Connecticut, he’s performed at Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, Stamford’s Palace Theatre and Rich Forum, Westport Country Playhouse, Norma Terris/Goodspeed at Chester and the Edgerton Centre for the Performing Arts.
He is co-founder of Falcon Repertory Company, a small professional theatre and film company based in Fairfield County, and is an emeritus member of the Theatre Artists’ Workshop. Musically, he performs with the rock and roll cover band Old School as guitarist and lead singer.
Michaud shared his enthusiasm for his new role at the Darien Arts Center’s fundraising event, “I’m proud to be MC’ing this year’s event. Darien’s Got Talent consistently has been one of the best community events and has showcased some truly gifted performers of all ages in many different performing arts over the last few years. I look forward to working with the DAC’s production crew and meeting this year’s group of talent.”
Registration remains open at darienarts.org until May 11 for auditions that will be held on May 19 and 20 at the DAC Weatherstone Studio. Contestants of all ages can enter the competition alone or as part of a group, to sing, dance, play an instrument or perform any other talent.
Acapella groups, garage bands and dance ensembles are welcome. Residency in Darien is not required to audition. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three adult and top three children winners, for a total of six prizes awarded.
Prizes include: Adults 1st place $1000, 2nd place $750, and 3rd place $500, Children’s 1st Place $750, 2nd Place $500, and 3rd Place $250. Registration fee to audition is $35.
For more information about auditions and eligibility, or sponsorship of Darien’s Got Talent, a DAC fundraiser, visit the website at darienarts.org or call (203) 655-8683.
The DAC is a nonprofit organization, which offers educational programming in dance, visual arts, theatre and music, as well as special events and live theatre productions by DAC Stage. The Darien Arts Center is located at 2 Renshaw Road in Darien, behind the Town Hall.