JCDC's Big Stage competition hits the road

The Big Stage for local talents in the areas of dance, singing, deejaying, stand-up comedy, novelty acts, magic, signing, and miming has hit the road and has begun its search across communities islandwide to select the top acts for the parish finals.

The competition, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development (JCDC), is open to Jamaicans of all ages and is being staged in phases.

First, there will be community talent searches, the winners from which head to parish finals.

The winners of the parish finals go to the national finals, which will be held as part of Independence celebration activities on Sunday, July 20, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.

technical workshops

The finalists will also benefit from technical workshops, which will help to fine-tune their presentations.

JCDC programme coordinator for the Big Stage, David Reid, says the search has been exciting so far and he is imploring talented Jamaicans to seize the opportunity to hone their talent and be exposed on the national stage.

Persons should check the JCDC website, www.jcdc.gov.jm, for further information and also contact the JCDC parish offices for information and entry forms.

The Big Stage competition has evolved from the Popular Cultural Expressions/Pop and Variety Contest and Star Search competitions, which the JCDC last produced in 2003.

All parish finals will be held in the town square at 6 p.m. and will begin on Friday, July 4, in Hanover and St Mary.

On Saturday, July 5, St James will host its parish finals, and on Sunday, July 6, Trelawny and St Ann will host their events. The show will head to St Elizabeth, Kingston, and Westmoreland on Friday, July 11, and to St Thomas, Manchester, Portland, St Catherine, and Clarendon on Saturday, July 12.