CAMBRIDGE – Emily MacRobbie of Harriston is the first-place winner of Drayton Entertainment’s Great Community Talent Search.
MacRobbie captured the audience’s attention with her rendition of the Bob Dylan classic Make You Feel My Love, singing the Adele arrangement.
Simon Zenker of Elmira landed in second place with his juggling skills, and Malia Dilana Afonso of Leamington came in third place with her performance of Never Enough from The Greatest Showman.
“It feels so awesome to be chosen by the audience as the winner. Thank you to everyone who voted,” said MacRobbie, when artistic director Alex Mustakas called to let her know that she had taken the top honours.
“I was just grateful for the opportunity to perform. I had no expectations. What a wonderful experience!”
Non-professionals from around the province entered the talent competition last fall, and nine finalists were selected to be showcased in the not-for-profit theatre company’s digital series Backstage Pass, which ran on Sunday nights from Jan. 30 to April 3.
Each finalist was given the opportunity to have their act professionally filmed on stage at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge.
Then, the finalists were featured one by one in nine episodes of the Backstage Pass series culminating in a recap of all the performances during the 10th episode finale.
Audiences voted for the winner after the series ended.
Other finalists included Faridhusen Mansuri of Guelph, Emma Reynolds of Penetanguishene, Adam Rigby and Cayleigh Lennox of Dundas, Rezonation Quartet of Kitchener-Waterloo, Abigail Shatford of Pelham and Daniella Vega-Hickey of Cambridge.
“We are proud of the way this contest turned the spotlight on some incredible non-professional talent in Ontario,” said Mustakas.
“It’s been great to see the variety of talent from singing and dancing to juggling and more.
“Plus, the geographic reach of the search spanned across the province, from Penetanguishene to Leamington, Pelham to Dundas, and beyond.”
As the first-place winner MacRobbie will receive a “golden ticket package,” which includes tickets to shows at all five Drayton Entertainment locations in 2022, plus dinner and accommodation for an overnight stay in the area surrounding each venue.
Second-place winner Zenker will receive a gift certificate for four tickets to any Drayton Entertainment production, and Dilana Afonso, who finished third, will receive a gift certificate for two tickets to any production.
The Great Community Talent Search was open to non-professional people of any age resideing in Ontario.
