Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent black logo 2016 6-23-16

Letter: Darien Arts Center Thanks All Who Supported Darien’s Got Talent

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To the Editor:

The Darien Arts Center would like to thank everyone from our community who contributed to making our talent competition and primary fundraiser, Darien’s Got Talent an enormous success. We are thrilled that we could provide this opportunity again for local performing artists. A crowd of over 500, including family, friends and sponsors attended this year’s unprecedented showcase of talent at Darien High School last Saturday night. The tremendously positive response we received by those who participated in and attended the event was made possible by our generous sponsors as well as our wonderful producers and volunteers who worked for months to create this spectacular affair. Our sincere appreciation goes out to our Corporate Partner, Darien Rowayton Bank and to all of our other generous sponsors including Baywater Properties, Dana Fead, Realtor, EastCoast Irrigation, the Eenkema van Dijk family, Goodnow Investment Group, and Andrew Stefanou Salon and Spa.

Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent winners 6-26-16

Darien’s Got Talent Winners Announced [UPDATED]

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Zach Heyde won first prize in the adult category for Darien’s Got Talent competition Saturday night and Taylor Felt won first prize in the children’s category as well as the People’s Choice Award, with the most online votes. Both top winners are from Darien. __________

— This article has been updated at 11:17 a.m., Monday, with new information from Darien Arts Center. __________

 

Heyde, a Darien resident, is a composer and piano player. Until earlier this month, he worked at Darien Arts Center, teaching music, as a piano accompanist at Noroton Presbyterian Church and at Crescendo Music in Darien, which sells musical instruments and offers music lessons.

Darien Arts Center

Darien’s Got Talent

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Darien’s Got Talent, fundraiser for the  Darien Arts Center, takes place on June 25th at 7 p.m. at Darien High School. 20 finalists from Darien and neighboring towns will compete cash prizes in front of a live audience and a panel of accomplished entertainment professionals. The finalists for Darien’s Got Talent in the adult category are: Tom Giles, Katherine Gunya, Zach Heyde, Karen Joyce Miller, Riley Wells Thrush, a dance group consisting of Donyae Carter-Smith, Christopher Thigpen, Toni Yarrell, Alexis Askew, Najheera Miller, Cedric Thigpen, Domonique Carter-Stanley, Morgan Henry, Le’Ashia Langley, David Daniel, Davante Thomas, and Elisha Yarrel, a musical group of Laura Anglade and Grant Morro, a musical group of Paul Nelson and Jess Wilkes, and a singing group of Grady Allen, Carson Stewart, and Jordan Kalonydes. Finalists in the children’s category are: Isabella Bardos, Ella Bates, Lauren Blake, Taylor Felt, Clare Noelle King, Rica Monaghan, Ben Roland, Sommer Schmidt, Quinn Taylor, and a rock band consisting of Ben Teolis, Adeline Teolis, Rodrigo Galavis, and Diego Ferreira. Judging the finals are renowned jazz musician Joel A. Martin, Broadway writer and director Dan Goggin, former professional ballet dancer Ashlee Knapp Stewart, music industry producer John Doelp and producer of Kinky Boots, Jane Bergere.

Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent 2016 6-23-16

Vote in the Darien’s Got Talent People’s Choice Awards: 12 Darien Acts Participating

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A dozen acts from Darien are vying for top prizes this Saturday, June 25 in Darien’s Got Talent, the primary fundraiser for the Darien Arts Center. Ella Bates, Lauren Blake, Taylor Felt, Rica Monaghan, Sommer Schmidt, Quinn Taylor, Katherine Gunya, Zach Heyde, Carson Stewart, Laura Anglade, Grant Morro, Paul Nelson, Jess Wilkes, Grady Allen, and Jordan Kalonydes, make up the Darien finalists in the performances that take place at 7 p.m. at Darien High School, 80 High School Lane. Tickets are available at darienarts.org. Bates, Blake, Felt, Monaghan, Schmidt and Taylor are competing in the children’s category for those 16 and under. Bates, Felt, and Monaghan will showcase their vocal chops, Taylor will play cello, and Blake and Schmidt perform dance routines; Blake’s an Irish step number.

Arts & Entertainment
Andrew Stefanou Dee Stefanou 6-11-16

Darien’s Got Talent — and All-Star Judges for the June 25 Competition

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The Darien Arts Center is gathering first-class support for Darien’s Got Talent with judges including Kinky Boots Producer Jane Bergere and Nunsense writer and director Danny Goggin. Other entertainment professionals contributing their time and expertise as judges include musician and composer Joel A. Martin; former award-winning professional New York City Ballet dancer Ashlee Knapp Stewart; and John Doelp, senior vice president at Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment, a voting member of the Grammys and executive producer for Celine Dion. The talent show takes place on June 25 at 7 p.m. at Darien High School. Viewed as an exceptional showcase of talent in the community, and a friendly, yet serious competition, it provides a fun way to support a long-standing asset of Darien, The Darien Arts Center. The DAC is celebrating 40 years of enriching the community with visual and performing arts programs, and its major fundraiser elicits emotional commitments and passionate responses from those familiar with it.

Darien Arts Center
Darien's Got Talent 2016 Committee 6-16-16

Darien’s Got TASTE Party After Darien’s Got Talent

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When it comes to community support, not only does Darien have talent, but Darien’s got taste, too. In a show of support for the Darien Arts Center’s primary fundraiser, Darien’s Got Talent, area businesses have contributed a stellar array of culinary delights to an exclusive after party, appropriately dubbed, Darien’s Got Taste. Entry to the party at the conclusion of Darien’s Got Talent, will be granted to VIP ticket holders and sponsors, who can enjoy the outstanding buffet of local cuisine, celebrate with the winners of the talent competition and listen to musical entertainment by pianist Bob Rissolo. Donors to the Darien’s Got Taste celebration, which takes place in the Little Theatre at Darien High School, include Cesco’s Trattoria, Amanda Smith Caterers, Bodega Taco Bar, Carolyn’s Absolutely Fabulous Events, Chocolate Works, Darien Butcher Shop, Fjord Fisheries, Four Forks, Michael Joseph’s Catering, Palmer’s, Atria, Whole Foods, Panera, Trader Joe’s, Rowayton Pizza and Crunch Fitness. Darien’s Got Talent takes place at Darien High School on June 25 at 7 p.m. Local support for the DAC’s fundraiser will enable the organization to continue to enrich the community with arts education and live theatre.

Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent Committee 2016

People’s Choice Award Added to Darien’s Got Talent

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The Darien Arts Center has added a fun new way to be a winner in their talent show, Darien’s Got Talent. In addition to competing on stage for cash prizes, contestants can now compete to help raise money for the DAC. The public is encouraged to vote online at darienarts.org, as many times as they wish, for their favorite contestant(s) in order to elect the winner of the Darien’s Got Talent 2016 People’s Choice Award. The contestant with the most votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award trophy at the conclusion of Darien’s Got Talent, which takes place at 7 p.m. on June 25th at Darien High School. Voting for the recipient of the People’s Choice Award is open to all and will remain open until June 24th at darienarts.org.

Arts & Entertainment
Contestants Darien's Got Talent 2016 5-24-16

Darien’s Got Talent Finalists for 2016 Announced

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The Darien Arts Center has named the 20 finalists from Darien and neighboring towns who will compete in Darien’s Got Talent on June 25 at 7 p.m. at Darien High School. Auditions for the fundraiser took place on May 21 and 22 in the DAC Weatherstone Studio, with almost 60 contestants, ages 10 and older, auditioning for the preliminary judges. Auditioning acts included singers, dancers, musicians, bands, comics and theatrical performers. The chosen finalists will move on to compete for cash prizes in front of a live audience and a panel of accomplished entertainment professionals in the finals show. The finalists for Darien’s Got Talent in the adult category are:

Tom Giles,
Katherine Gunya,
Zach Heyde,
Karen Joyce Miller,
Riley Wells Thrush,
a dance group consisting of Donyae Carter-Smith, Christopher Thigpen, Toni Yarrell, Alexis Askew, Najheera Miller, Cedric Thigpen, Domonique Carter-Stanley, Morgan Henry, Le’Ashia Langley, David Daniel, Davante Thomas, and Elisha Yarrel,
a musical group of Laura Anglade and Grant Morro,
a musical group of Paul Nelson and Jess Wilkes,
and a singing group of Grady Allen, Carson Stewart, and Jordan Kalonydes.

Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent 2016 5-16-16

You Can Still Register for ‘Darien’s Got Talent’ Show — Auditions May 21-22

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Online registration to audition for Darien’s Got Talent remains open at darienarts.org. The popular fundraising talent competition features cash prizes for adults and children, and accomplished entertainment professionals as judges for auditions and finals. Twenty finalists will compete for top prizes in front of a live audience at DHS on June 25. Contestants are not required to live in Darien; auditions for the competition are open to all, ages 10 and up. Darien’s Got Talent auditions will be held on May 21 and 22 at the DAC Weatherstone Studio at 2 Renshaw Road.

Darien Arts Center
BT McNicholl 5-1-16

‘Darien’s Got Talent’ Master of Ceremonies, BT McNicholl — Himself a Broadway & Hollywood Talent

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Broadway and Hollywood director, producer and writer, BT McNicholl has been announced as Master of Ceremonies for Darien’s Got Talent, the Darien Arts Center’s talent competition taking place on June 25. The popular fundraising event features cash prizes for adults and children, and accomplished 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 10 and up. Contestants are not required to live in Darien, but must register to audition at darienarts.org by May 9.

Darien Arts Center
Darien's Got Talent 4-27-16

Got Talent? Don’t Just Sing in the Shower — Show Us on Stage! Win a Prize!

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The Darien Arts Center is currently accepting registrations to audition for Darien’s Got Talent, their popular talent contest, which returns on June 25. The fundraising event for the DAC features prizes for adults and children, and accomplished entertainment industry professionals as judges for the auditions and finals. ___________

— an announcement from the Darien Arts Center

___________

Twenty 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 10 and up. Contestants are not required to live in Darien, but must register to audition at darienarts.org by May 9.

Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent Committee 2016

Register Starting Monday for Darien’s Got Talent Competition

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A team of producers of Darien’s Got Talent are preparing for the Darien Art Center’s popular talent contest, which returns on June 25. Registration for the event begins Monday, April 11. The fundraising event for the DAC features prizes for adults and children, and accomplished entertainment industry professionals as judges for the auditions and finals. Contestants ages 10 and over, can enter alone or as part of a group, to sing, dance, play an instrument or perform any other talent in the competition. Acapella groups, garage bands and dance ensembles are welcome.

Arts & Entertainment
Darien's Got Talent preview 3-19-16

Get Your Act Together for ‘Darien’s Got Talent’ Competition

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It’s time to polish up your act for Darien’s Got Talent, the Darien Arts Center’s popular talent competition being held on June 25. “It’s time to stop singing in the shower, dancing in your PJs, and telling jokes to your dog, and show everyone how talented you are!” said Amy Allen, DAC executive director. Darien’s Got Talent returns, due to popular demand, for its third year with the chance for contestants to showcase their talents, shine on stage, and win cash prizes. Contestants ages 10 and over can enter alone or as part of a group, to sing, dance, play an instrument or perform just about any other talent in the competition. Acapella groups, garage bands and dance ensembles are welcome.

Arts & Entertainment
2013 Darien's Got Talent winners

Start Getting Your Act Together: ‘Darien’s Got Talent’ Competition Coming June 25

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Darien’s Got Talent, the highly anticipated talent competition for ages 10 through adult, is returning to Darien in the spring of 2016. The fund-raising event for the Darien Arts Center features accomplished entertainment industry professionals as judges for the auditions and finals. New this year: prizes will be awarded for the top three adult and top three student winners. The 2016 competition will take place on June 25. There is plenty of time for contestants to get their acts together for auditions taking place the third weekend in May.