WAKEFIELD IDOL Set for Contemporary Theater Company

After the holidays, South County sometimes seems to shut down until spring. But the Contemporary Theater Company is fighting winter with the power of song at Wakefield Idol!

Wakefield Idol is a singing competition featuring local residents vying to win a $1500 cash prize. Contestants sing karaoke-style for the audience and judges, who decide who continues in the competition. There are ten weeks of competition all leading up to the finals on March 24, in which the audience votes for the winner.

Registration is still open for singers, who may sign up on the company's website.

"Wakefield Idol gets bigger every year," says Maggie Cady, technical director. "We sold out the last several weeks both years! The community rallied around it and created a wildly fun energy for the whole event."

The schedule is changed around this year with two preliminary weeks, followed by a second round night, then two more preliminaries and a second round.

"We wanted to switch things up and jump start the competition," says Christopher Simpson, host of Wakefield Idol and Artistic Director of the Contemporary Theater Company. "Half of the singers in the Sweet 16 will get chosen early, so they'll have lots of time to rehearse for the final rounds. The talent is going to be unbelievable this year!"

The Contemporary Theater Company partners with Phil's Main Street Grille, Blacknight Studios, Van Pelt Entertainment, The 401 Studio, and the Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce to create Wakefield Idol.

"One of my favorite parts of Wakefield Idol is the community," says Cady. "The singers are all very supportive of one another, and after the show the judges, audience, and singers all go to Phil's for karaoke!"

Tickets, registration, and more information are available online at www.contemporarytheatercompany.com or by calling 401-218-0282.