Wasilla talent show will light up Teeland's Mercantile

Feb. 20, 2007

BY DIMITRA LAVRAKAS

Frontiersman

WASILLA - He seems pretty calm for someone who has never pulled together a local talent show before, but Ron Farnsworth says it's been fun.

&#8220It's definitely a first,” he said. &#8220Yeah, it's fun, but getting everything in place has been a challenge.”

The deadline for those wanting to perform has been extended until Thursday, Farnsworth said, because they are still short of acts for the three-day event, scheduled for Feb. 24, Feb. 28 and

March 1.

The first community-wide talent show is part of Wasilla Chamber of Commerce's Iditarod Days. And those days are coming up fast.

The first show is Saturday and features acts by children under the age of 11.

&#8220We have a lip-syncher, a group doing a medley of 60s tunes, a dancer, and a 3-year-old tumbler,” said Teresa Blum, who does press relations for the chamber. &#8220There's even a teenager who's playing ragtime piano.”

Each show highlights a certain age group - ages 3-11 on Feb. 24, ages 12-17 on Feb. 28, and on March 1, age 18 and beyond.

There will be a &#8220whole slew of judges,” Farnsworth said. He will share emcee duties with Linda Jo Klapperich. Among the judges is Marty Metiva, council member of the Wasilla City Council, Farnsworth said.

&#8220There won't be the same judges every night,” Farnsworth said.

Entertainers who want to perform can contact Blum at 376-1299 to sign up. This is a family show, Blum reminds people, so the acts must be appropriate for all ages.

The event will be held at Teeland's Mercantile at 405 E. Herning Ave. in Wasilla. The spot also has been known through the years as Meade's Coffee House and Valley Bistro.

Each night, Teeland's is offering a dinner before the show at 6 p.m., when the local family group, RedHead Express, will entertain diners until the show begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for just the show and $15 for the show and dinner. Tickets are limited and may be purchased in advance from Teeland's at 357-5633.

All proceeds go to prizes for the

entertainers.

Contact Dimitra Lavrakas at 352-2269 or valleylife@frontiersman.com