CARIBOU – Four years worth of the top vocal talent featured on the Aroostook Idol stage will come together for a one-time, spectacular reunion performance to celebrate the popular county show and to raise much needed funds to build awareness and combat substance abuse in the region.
Contributed photoAroostook Idol Winners, front row, from left: Annie Charles (2007) and Renee Cavagnaro (2005), and back row: Samantha Boutot (2006) and Erin Buck (2008) pose for a photo during a recent rehearsal for “Aroostook Idol: The Reunion.” The four Idol stars will headline the gala performance, which will take place at the Caribou Performing Arts Center in Caribou Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
The curtain will rise on “Aroostook Idol: The Reunion” at the Caribou Performing Arts Center Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. The venue was selected because of its central location and because it has served as home to the Idol finale since the show’s inception in 2005. The production is also planned as one of the events to celebrate CPAC’s yearlong 20th anniversary.
“Last year through our allocations process, the United Way of Aroostook funded six agencies that are making an impact on the substance abuse efforts. We knew we did not have all the funding needed to support this effort, but because of the high level of importance to the community, the United Way Board of Directors chose to fund those requests at the level needed with the goal of raising the additional funds required by the end of December 2008,” said Claudia Stevens, executive director of the United Way of Aroostook, the organization that created Aroostook Idol four years ago and has staged the production since.
“Hosting an Aroostook Idol Reunion is our opportunity to raise the funding necessary to complete the Substance Abuse project,” she said. “Not only will this event fill a very important need, but will provide Aroostook County with the opportunity to hear Aroostook County’s top vocalists perform.”
Headlining the show will be the four Aroostook Idol winners, Renee Cavagnaro (2005) of Caribou, Samantha Boutot (2006) of Fort Kent, Annie Charles (2007) of Limestone, and the current Idol Erin Buck of Caribou. Cavagnaro, Boutot, Charles and Buck have been working for weeks on group production numbers, as well as solo songs they will feature as part of the gala event.
The current and former Idols will be joined by some of the top and most memorable talent to grace the stage at Idol productions held over the years in Houlton, Presque Isle and Fort Kent. Among those participating in the tribute are Pamela Cyr of Fort Kent, Julie Shaw of Westfield, Megan Ouellette of Van Buren, Dawson Graham of Weston, Renae Russell of Island Falls, Adam Simoes of Presque Isle, Julie Curtis of Ashland, and Robert Helstrom of Washburn.
“The United Way of Aroostook is both proud and pleased to be able to bring such a high level of talent from throughout the region to the stage,” said Stevens. “We’re confident that those who attend this spectacular show will find this to be one of the best performances in Aroostook Idol history.”
In between some of the vocal performances, Idol talent and individuals who have worked on the production over the years will speak about some of the show’s most memorable moments both on stage and off. Aside from great performances and a retrospective on the show’s history, the reunion will serve as opportunity to raise much-needed funds for an important county cause.
“Through our 2006 Community Assessment program, Aroostook County told us that substance abuse was one of the greatest concerns that they wanted to address in the region, and therefore the funds raised for our substance abuse efforts were used to support AMHC’s – Opioid Enhanced Case Management Services, Cary Medical’s Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative, Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Drug Detection Canine, Madawaska School System’s Bullying Program and ACAP’s Partnership for a Healthy Community,” Stevens said. “The total amount that was funded to these agencies was $77,071.”
Tickets for the Oct. 5 Aroostook Idol: The Reunion show are $12 each and now on sale at all Aroostook County Key Bank branches.
