Sunday, January 22, 2012
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
Area youths had a chance to show off their talents Saturday — and they did.
Individuals and groups filled the meeting room of the main branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County with song, comedy, dance and even some miming.
Leaders for Progress, a Youngstown-based group, sponsored the talent show auditions held Saturday. The organization has tentatively scheduled a talent show for March 16 at a venue to be decided later.
“We want to let the kids know that we appreciate their talent and that it won’t go unnoticed,” said Ayanna Walker, co-founder of Leaders for Progress. “We want to let them know there are people here that actually believe in what they do.”
The top four winners of the talent show will receive cash prizes.
Judges for the auditions were Glen Williams, Abdul Harris, Butler Johnson, and Charmayne Williams. Performers were judged on talent and ability, audience response and stage presence.
Corbin Croom, 15, of Youngstown, participated because he likes to sing and enjoys comedy.
“I’d like to be a professional songwriter and singer,” he said. “Kind of like my idols, Michael Jackson and Chris Brown.”
He sang “I Want You Back,” by the Jackson 5. The judges told him he had a beautiful voice, but needed to make the song his own.
Croom appreciated the feedback.
“It will really help me in the future because I really need to work on making the performance my own, because I keep on trying to sing what the original artist sings,” he said. “And that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about making the performance yours.”
After he sang, the judges asked to see Croom’s comic impersonation of Madea, a character created by Tyler Perry. The judges laughed enthusiastically throughout the performance.
Lucretia Croom came along to support her son.
“I think it’s exciting,” she said. “He’s always been singing, dancing, acting — I think ever since he’s been moving.”
She liked the idea of the talent show.
“It’s a good idea to kind of pull them off the streets and get them to do something productive,” she said.
The St. James Church of God of Youngstown mime group hasn’t performed outside of the church before, but decided the talent show was a good place to start.
Desiree Fitzgerald, 20, has been in the mime group for about 11 years.
“We’re participating so we can get mime out there,” she said. “People don’t really know what it is. Mime is a ministry. We’re ministering out to the people. We’ll go out and set movement to songs so people can understand them better.”
Leaders for Progress offers inner-city youth mentoring, volunteer opportunities and activities.