Like a lot of Leadership Jackson County project teams, this year’s art group began by dreaming big.
Chad Dixon, Jennifer Rorick, Stephanie Sluder, Brett Turner and Keisha Wright came up with the idea of providing some type of art therapy within the county.
Looking at the plethora of avenues they could go down with that, however, they kept running into a roadblock, Turner said.
“We found out it was a little bit bigger bite than we could chew at that time,” he said.
A meeting with Boys and Girls Club of Seymour Executive Director Ryon Wheeler, however, helped the art team draw up the perfect plan.
“He just flat said, ‘Why don’t you have a talent show?'” Turner said. “Ryon had been involved in talent shows at other places.”
The team found out there’s a lot more to planning such an event than they thought, but they made another community connection in Seymour Parks and Recreation Department Director Stacy Findley to finish off their plan for the Smalltown Star talent show.
“Why don’t you all participate in the Fourth of July celebration at Freeman Field?” Findley asked, referring to the department’s annual Independence Day event at Freeman Field Recreational Area.
“I immediately thought, ‘Man, that’s awesome’ because we’re all coming out of this pandemic, and everybody will tell you people are wanting to get out, people are wanting to do things,” Turner said. “The Fourth of July celebration is going to be huge, and we are going to be right smack in the middle of it with our talent show. Obviously, we instantly took her up on her invite.”
The group decided to open the talent show to boys and girls in grades 6 through 12 at Jackson County schools, and they came up with a permission slip and a code of conduct. Then they took fliers they created to schools to promote the show and encourage kids to send in their audition videos.
Those are due by Monday via messenger at facebook.com/smalltownstar or uploading to Google Drive, Dropbox or YouTube and emailing the link to [email protected]. Each family friendly-act, from individuals to duos to groups, will be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes.
The project team will select the best acts to perform onstage between 3 and 5 p.m. July 4 at Freeman Field. Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson will emcee the event, and Dan Robison, Rexanne Ude and Karen Haas will be the judges.
The winning act will receive $150 cash, and the runner-up will earn $100.
“They are winning regardless of the prize,” Sluder said of the participants. “The experience alone makes them stand out. I believe we have found a way to impact youth and those helping with the event.”
While admission to the show will be free, attendees are encouraged to bring cash, cleaning supplies or hygiene products to be given to Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry in Seymour.
“We were really moved when we as a Leadership group visited Anchor House and saw all that they were doing to help low-income families,” Sluder said. “We really wanted to include them in this event. As Smalltown Star grows, it will help raise awareness for Anchor House and the good things they continue to do for our low-income families.”
While their initial idea of art therapy didn’t pan out, the team still thinks the talent show will be therapeutic for youth.
“Children, especially preteens and teens, they thrive on self-expression,” Wright said. “We felt this would be appropriate for teens to express themselves after possibly starting new hobbies and interests during the COVID lockdown and quarantine.”
Sluder said the team wanted to give youth in Jackson County an opportunity to shine.
“We also want this event to be a therapeutic activity for teens that have just gone through loneliness and stress during the pandemic,” she said. “This fun family annual event will not only be a creative outlet for teens and a fundraiser to support a local cause, we will also recognize new talent in our precious small town.”
Beyond this year, the group’s plan is to have Seymour Parks and Recreation continue to conduct the event on the Fourth of July.
“Every year should get better as word gets out,” Sluder said. “We look forward to seeing how much Smalltown Star will grow.”
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The Smalltown Star talent show is set for 3 to 5 p.m. July 4 at Freeman Field Recreational Area, 2476 N. State Road 11, Seymour.
The Leadership Jackson County event will be hosted by the Seymour Parks and Recreation Department and Boys and Girls Club of Seymour.
It’s for Jackson County students in grades 6 through 12 from the 2020-21 school year. Each family-friendly act, including individuals, duos or groups, will be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes.
Audition videos are due by Monday via messenger at facebook.com/smalltownstar or uploading to Google Drive, Dropbox or YouTube and emailing the link to [email protected]. Acts will be notified if they are chosen to perform onstage.
Cash prizes are $150 for first place and $100 for second place.
Admission to the show is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring cash, cleaning supplies or hygiene products to be given to Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry in Seymour.
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