Deadline near for Oklahoma Kids’ local competition

Submitted report
America’s “big league of little entertainers,” Oklahoma Kids, a division of American Kids Inc., has set a local competition on April 1, to be held at the Stigler VFW in Stigler. The entry deadline is March 25, according to Oklahoma Kids State Director Nathan Johnson.
The membership and competition is open to all youth ages three through high school seniors, 18 years old.
Johnson, event coordinator, can be contacted at 580-320-3102 or by email at NLJohnson2@yahoo.com. All states are invited to participate in this local competition.
Entry forms and guidelines are available at americankidscan.wixsite.com/akids/forms and may be used by young performers in all states.
The event will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by a parents meeting. Competition will begin around 9 a.m. and a cast party and an awards ceremony will conclude the day.
A variety of prizes, from cash to medallions and trophies, for five age divisions are presented at all levels of competition. The different levels of competition include seven categories: Country vocal, gospel vocal, serious/classical vocal, musical theater, popular vocal, dance and specialty acts.
The event is followed by optional progressive levels of talent competitions, including a state competition, which was held the last few years at the McSwain Theater in Ada.  
The competition events will conclude with Nationals and an All Star Show in Branson, Mo., the third weekend in July in Silver Dollar City. The All Star Show is judged by entertainment industry professionals.
“Our members present a wide variety of performances on the local, state and national level to share their talent for the benefit of others. 2017 will be a very exciting year for Oklahoma-American Kids with performances in several states and an international tour in Canada, which is currently being cast,” said Johnson. “Members enjoy exposure, growth, character development and opportunity. Because of the experience gained from being on stage, members are better prepared for whatever they choose to do in life. Many members are performing on Broadway and on tour with Disney and in Branson and Nashville: Kristin Chenoweth, Bryan White,  Carrie Underwood, Jarrod Neimann and Blake Shelton are alumni. The group is affiliated with Ed McMahon, Barbara Fairchild, Randy Earhart and Taco Mayo, Steve Weyher and Golden Corral and Brandon Karn and Ben and Jerry’s,” according to found of the program, Dr. Dale Smith.
For more information about Oklahoma Kids, a division of American Kids Inc., check out the americankidscan.wixsite.com/akids website, Facebook, or contact the state director by email or at the number listed in the above.

FILE PHOTO - Oklahoma Kids perform during a Freedom from Addiction event at Roye Park in July 2016