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Highlands Today

'Idol' Contestants Fill The Stage

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: September 6, 2008

SEBRING - Photos Available For Purchase

It was a night for superlatives.

Thursday's opening show of Heartland Idol, held on the Circle, was the best attended kick-off for the five-year Idol run, with about 300 spectators.

Thirty-two contestants set a record for the most singers to start the eight-week competition.

Plus, although the buns for the huge half-pound, foot-long "Idol Dog" were barely adequate, the new menu item sold out quickly.

But the biggest surprise came thanks to the littlest competitors. The Junior Idol singers stole the show.

The cheers were loudest for those 12 and under. Thirteen performers sang their hearts out for five coveted spots in the semi finals.

For the first time, the youngest competitors sang a cappella for up to 90 seconds.

It was a family affair for the Marreros of Lorida.

Mom Shannon progressed to the semi-finals round, while her 4-year-old daughter, Annabella Marrero, was a crowd favorite and also moved on.

The then-pregnant Mom sang for two during last year's fall competition. A new 8-month-old Marrero family member was in attendance on Thursday after arriving the day after Christmas.

Annabella wore white ribbons in her hair and sang "Annie." After her performance, she said she was not nervous. The preschooler's favorite singer is Hannah Montana and Anna bella already knows she want to become a professional singer.

"I'm very surprised and very proud," said Shannon Marrero. "She practices all the time. And she started in key and stayed in key the whole time."

Don Elwell was the master of ceremonies and kept the three-hour spectacle running smoothly.

He solicited applause prior to several performances when a singer seemed overly nervous to show a contestant they were "surrounded by friends."

Elwell also settled the audience and performers when the sound system regularly crackled, popped, or even cut in and out, by promising that organizers would make the necessary "tweaks" to ensure better sound quality in the future.

Two new judges accepted the roles of "Simon" and "Simeone," modeled after Simon Cowell from the local show's inspiration, "American Idol."

Melanie Boulay and Jim McCollum are both Highlands Little Theatre veterans and took some heat from the lively audience after they attempted to coach the singers.

Boulay often told singers to "take a deep breath," and said at the onset for the benefit of everyone who took the stage to "blow out the nerves and show us what you've got."

McCollum regularly scolded young future stars from singing songs that he felt were not appropriate for their ages. Just as regularly the crowd booed him.

"Take some time to grow up," he told one competitor.

Most older competitors wore black. Most who took the stage were females.

The music was a mix of country, soft rock and religious, while two competitors sang "Amazing Grace."

Long gowns seemed to attract the most positive feedback from judges for dress and repeatedly judges told singers after a performance to dress for the part.

One singer who likely collected every point possible for costume was Andrew Nicholas, 54, who wore a white sequined jumpsuit and sang an Elvis song, "Are you Lonesome Tonight?"

He stayed in character during the pre-interview and was urged by judge Rooter Rush to wear the same outfit if he is chosen to sing a Bee Gees song during the semi finals.

The five contestant Heartland Idol adults reaching the semifinals were: Julia Newell of Sebring; Sara Michaud of Sebring; Amy McCoy of Sebring; Shannon Marrero of Lorida; and Leslie Bass of Sebring.

Junior Division winners were: Sydni Hornick, 9, Lake Placid, Jerrianne Carlton, 10, Sebring, Tamra McMahon, 11, of Sebring, Anna Bella Marrero 4, of Lorida and Larissa Meagher, of Lake Placid.

Teens moving on were: Taylor Miller,16, Sebring, Tiffany Zerko,16, Avon Park, Christopher Hawthorne, (last year's Junior Idol winner) 13, Sebring, David Jolly, 17, Sebring, and Ivanna Santos, 13, Sebring.

The second round of Heartland Idol will feature qualifying for all three divisions. David Flowers will host the Sept. 11 event starting at 6 p.m. at the Circle. The following Thursday, Sept. 18, is reserved as a rain date with competition continuing Sept. 25.

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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