Search for the Stars will be going through with their annual show this weekend but the auditorium will be a lot emptier compared to previous years.
That’s because the E.A. Rawlinson centre is only able to have 30 people in the auditorium due to public health measures.
Spokesperson Cara Stelmaschuk said contestants in the show will be performing for other competitors who are likeminded people. Everyone will be safely distanced and wearing masks when they aren’t performing.
On stage, performers are distanced four metres apart.
There are total of 12 performers and four bands competing in the show. The performers are between the ages of 7 and 18.
“People are going to be blown away by how good all these young performers are,” Stelmaschuk said.
The competition will kick off this Friday evening with workshops for performers. The workshops are run by judges who are industry professionals. The judges are Lindsay “Eekwol” Knight, Derek Melchert, and Paul Lomheim. They will be advising contestants on performing, audience engagement, proper etiquette during sound check, and what it’s like to be on tour and performing for other artists.
Stelmaschuk said all three judges have unique experiences in the industry.
“The stories they have are amazing, (and) the experience they have is basically priceless,” she said.
Knight is an award-winning rapper hailing from Muskoday who performed at the Rawlinson Centre last fall.
Lomheim is a Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame inductee who has produced Saskatchewan Country Music Awards and Country North Shows, as well as the Saskatchewan Summer Games an Western Canada Games opening ceremonies. He’s also produced large shows at the Art Hauser Centre, such as Tom Cochrane, Johnny Reid and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Melchert has been playing professionally since he was 14, and has shared the stage with bands such as Trooper, Street Heart and with Randy Bachman.
The workshop will continue on Saturday morning. Rehearsal will start Saturday afternoon and go into Sunday morning. The show will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The show is sponsored by Canadian Tire. Awards will be handed out on Sunday in multiple categories. The categories are Junior Star (ages 8 to 10), Intermediate Star (ages 11 to 14), Senior Star (ages 15 to 18), Singer/Songwriter (ages 15 to 18) and Most Improved Star (any age group).
Because people can’t attend the event in-person, the Rawlinson will be live streaming the show.
Tickets need to be purchased online to watch the competition. Tickets are sold on a pick-your-own-price basis with a minimum value of $10. There are recommended prices for the tickets depending on how many people are buying. For example, a couple is suggested to pay $25.20, and a small group is suggested to pay $50.40.
Stelmashuk said the ticket prices are at everyone’s own discretion.
“We want to make sure it’s accessible so if people can afford to pay $10 then pay the $10. You’re still contributing, you’re still helping us present this event and that’s how were going to keep this event going is people participating,” she explained.
Stelmaschuk added that it’s always nice to have audience members in-person. She said it’s unfortunate performers won’t be able to invite their family members to the show physically, but with the live stream, people may be able to watch who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend in-person, such as residents of nursing homes or group homes.
“This makes entertainment really accessible for them,” Stelmaschuk said.
Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/3orOJZb, instructions on how to view the live stream are available at https://www.earc.ca/livestreams.
- With files from Peter Lozinski
