QUINCY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — While Covid-19 has halted many aspects of the live entertainment industry, one local company is offering the chance of a lifetime for aspiring young talents.
John McDonald of JM Productions in Quincy is the brain behind "Rising Stars," a singing competition for local youth that has gone virtual this year.
"Over the past 20+ years, JM Productions & "Rising Stars" has worked with many brilliant student singers, playing a role in their growth as performance artists," the website said. "We have initiated this contest to give talented singers a platform during the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. If you are a student who loves singing, then this is the chance for you to showcase your talent."
After a career on Broadway, McDonald founded the Quincy Community Theatre in 1983 and served as it's president before founding JM Productions. He said his work includes honing young talent to allow kids to present their skills "in a manner that sets them apart from others."
"We want kids that really are working towards a career in performance arts," McDonald said. "But its so funny because on that flip side of that coin, we've been surprised by kids who really have talent that they don't even realize."
Local students can enter the competition by submitting a video of them singing on the JM Productions website and paying an entrance fee. After the submissions are entered, a panel of judges will select the top entries and showcase them on the company's Facebook page before selecting a final winner.
"Because of Covid it has to be done online, it provides an opportunity for kids to kind of scratch that itch, you know the creative itch, but it is a contest," McDonald said.
The winner of Rising Stars will receive a personalized training session with Broadway's Alexa Green, who is most well-known for her role as Glinda in the Broadway musical Wicked. The winner will also get the chance to cut their own demo at a professional recording studio.
If you know of a child who is interested in entering the contest, the last date for submissions is on Feb. 28th, 2021. You can enter a submission here.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Getty Images)