Idol audition planned

    PRESQUE ISLE – The continued popularity of the countywide competition to find a singing superstar and the large number of interested vocalists signing up for the fifth season of Aroostook Idol have prompted organizers to include, for the first time ever, private auditions for contestants competing in one of the three regional stage shows.     With final preparations under way for upcoming Idol events in Houlton Friday, Jan. 30 and Fort Kent Friday, Feb. 6, the committee responsible for coordinating the productions is looking at the final regional competition in Presque Isle Friday, Feb. 13, and the more than two dozen applications that have already poured into the United Way of Aroostook for that show alone.
    “The response has been amazing,” said Claudia Stevens, executive director for the United Way of Aroostook and member of the Idol committee. “The interest in Aroostook Idol is as – if not more – popular than it has ever been. There are only a few slots remaining for singers to take part in the Houlton and Fort Kent shows and we are already at the point where we need to make a decision about the Presque Isle show because we have twice as many applicants than we have slots to fill.”
    This is the third consecutive year numbers of participants signing up for Idol in central Aroostook have prompted organizers to make adjustments to the regional show. Two years ago, the committee elected to add a second Presque Isle production to the countywide circuit. Last year, they decided to expand the show to add a few additional slots and still ended up turning away applicants.
    “We have decided to hold private auditions this season for the first time in the five years we have hosted Aroostook Idol,” said Stevens. “In the past, we’ve added a second show in Presque Isle to accommodate the large number who signed up and have also turned some great singers away because all of our slots were filled. Holding auditions, much like ‘American Idol’ does when they travel around the country handing out ‘golden tickets’ to Hollywood, will both ensure the top vocalists in central Aroostook who sign up to take part in Idol are involved and that those who pay admission to attend that show will see a top quality show.”
    According to Stevens, the idea of conducting private auditions with applicants to whittle down the number of contestants for the Presque Isle show was raised in an Aroostook Idol committee meeting last week. Members of the planning group saw it as the best option on the table. Adding a second show two years ago they felt ended up splitting the audience over two nights and committee members were concerned about turning away half of the show applicants without even hearing them sing.
    “Had we strictly limited the number of contestants signing up for the Presque Isle show in past years we may never have heard the voice of 2007 Idol winner Annie Charles and the current Idol Erin Buck may have not have made it on stage last year,” said Stevens. “We wanted to stay true to our goal to ‘find the county’s next singing superstar.’”
    The past winners of the Aroostook Idol competitions will play prominent roles in this year’s contests. The three former Aroostook Idol winners, Renee Cavagnaro (2005) of Caribou, Samantha Boutot (2006) of Fort Kent and Charles (2007) of Limestone will serve as the on-stage judges passing commentary on the contestant performances at this year’s regional shows and finale, which is set for the Caribou Performing Arts Center Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. In her role as the returning Idol, Buck will perform at each production.
    The judges’ panel for the Presque Isle show try-outs will include Aroostook Idol committee members Elaine Sipe, Carolyn Dorsey, Sherry Jackson, Cheri Doak, Virginia Joles and Stevens. Plans are to hold the auditions Feb. 3 to give applicants who move forward a week and-a-half to prepare for the regional competition Friday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Presque Isle Middle School auditorium.
    As is Aroostook Idol tradition, the top three contestants at each of the regional shows – as determined by audience vote – will move forward to the March 1 finale to compete against other regional winners for the title. Over the past three years, the finale show has been a sell-out, filling all 825 seats at CPAC.
    Tickets for the three regional shows in Houlton, Fort Kent and Presque Isle are now on sale for $8 each at all Aroostook County Key Bank branches. All proceeds from the annual project benefit United Way of Aroostook supported agencies and programs throughout the county.