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The goal of the newly formed competition, which took place for the first time Aug. 16 and will return to the theater Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, is to nurture local talent.
There are two categories: Those in the Youth group from ages 5 to 16, and the Adult group, for those 17 and up. Among those competing (of which auditions are necessary): Aspiring professional singers, musicians, comedians, and dancers. The winner, announced at the end of the night, receives $500 (though Oestreicher is quick to point out everyone is a winner and the goal of the program is to offer “non-judgmental judging”).
Oestreicher is just one of the forces behind the event; two other integral members of the team are the show's hosts: Comedian Capone, the current host of "Amateur Night at the Apollo" as well as the headliner for the Shaquille O’Neal Comedy Tour, and Joe Gray, whose electric performing style and history of mentoring were the original inspiration for the show.
Christine Brown and Kathy Reynolds, owners of The Bijou Theatre, recognized this as a golden opportunity to showcase their historic 200-seat space.
Each show features a different round of judges; Javier Colon, a Hartford native and winner of the inaugural season of "The Voice," will be at the Oct. 25 show. Other judges for the October performance include Vic Steffens (head of Horizon Music Group and Elm City Music), Joel Martin (Jazzical), Steve Gaspar (Grammy-nominated songwriter), and Marko Urosevic (owner of Trumbull's Fred Astaire Dance Studio).
The intention of "Your Time to Shine" differs from other talent competitions in that it does not seek to create pop stars, Oestreicher said. Instead, its aim is to nurture the love for and the joy of the arts. In his words: "Each performance is viewed as an opportunity to share your soul and to have it received."
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