Star City Star Search is on for 150th anniversary

   PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The Star City is in need of a “star” for its upcoming 150th anniversary in 2009, so a call for talent is going out to the community for individuals to take part in the first major event to celebrate the sesquicentennial. The winner of the competition will become an entertainment ambassador for the city throughout the anniversary year, appearing and performing at events in Presque Isle and surrounding communities.
Star City Star Search is planned for Saturday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Presque Isle Middle School Auditorium. Individuals of all ages and talents, who were born in the Star City or currently reside in Presque Isle, are eligible to sign up to perform and compete for the title.
The show is open to entertainers representing all genres of talent including instrumentalists, vocalists, dancers, magicians, and dramatists, among others. The project is a collaborative effort between the Presque Isle Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee and the Northern Maine Community College Foundation, which is coordinating the event.
“The Presque Isle Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee is very pleased and excited to be working with NMCC, which is playing a very active and key role in our sesquicentennial event planning and activities. In fact, this event is the first major event of the year-long celebration which is quite apropos,” said Kimberly Smith, sesquicentennial committee chair. “This event symbolizes the collaborative effort of our celebration between community, businesses, and educational institutions and is one reason why this celebration will be a success.”
NMCC and the NMCC Foundation were offered the opportunity by the sesquicentennial committee to host a staged production during the upcoming celebration. The Foundation agreed earlier this fall to coordinate an activity that would serve as both an evening of entertainment and a kick-off to the year’s activity.
“The coming year will be an important and memorable one for the people of Presque Isle. Northern Maine Community College has played a pivotal role in both the city and the county for the most recent five decades of Presque Isle’s history and will do the same for this celebration,” said Richard Engels, chair of the NMCC Foundation board of directors. “The Foundation is pleased to coordinate the Star Search event. It is certain to be a great evening of entertainment to get the celebration under way.”
Star City Star Search will resemble the popular television show hosted by Ed McMahon, which ran from 1983-1995. The show was re-launched by CBS for two seasons from 2002-2004.
Similar to the television production, the Presque Isle event will feature three judges who will individually award up to four stars for each act’s talent presentation. The audience in attendance will vote for their favorite act following the final performer and additional stars will be awarded to the individual acts based on that tally to determine a winner. In the event of a tie, the audience vote will determine the winner.
Individuals of all ages interested in participating in the Star City Star Search event are encouraged to download an application from the NMCC Web site at www.nmcc.edu. Applications can also be picked up at the information window in the Christie lobby on the NMCC campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information or to have an application mailed, contact the NMCC Foundation at 760-1188.
In addition to hosting the Star Search event, NMCC is also planning to host the city’s official “birthday party” April 4, 2009 – the date 150 years ago that the city was incorporated. That event will coincide with the start of National Community College Month and begin a series of events planned for NMCC in April.
“On behalf of the Sesquicentennial Committee, I want to express my gratitude to NMCC for serving as a role model for the community,” said Smith.