5th Door County Idol Competition at DCA

With a resounding drum roll, six of Door County’s most talented young singers will step onto the Door Community Auditorium stage to compete for the title 5th Door County Idol on Saturday, February 7 at 7 pm.

Following preliminary auditions last month, the “final six” advanced to the Door County Idol’s final competition. Each of the contestants has selected two songs to perform to accompaniment of their own choosing.

This year’s Door County Idol finalists include students from three of the peninsula’s high schools. Lily Larsen, a Sturgeon Bay High School senior, has participated in numerous musical and theatrical productions, while Bennett Kerwin, also a senior at Sturgeon Bay High School, prefers folk and acoustic music. Kirsten Logerquist, a junior at Gibraltar High School, has performed both as a singer and actress. Southern Door High School junior Monica Lenius has appeared in a number of local productions and hopes to continue her interest in music in college. Southern Door High School senior Wesley Schwartz is returning for his second Door County Idol appearance, and Liz Neuman, last year’s Door County Idol runner-up and a senior at Southern Door High School, proclaims both jazz and country at the top of her favorite musical genre list.

Kristy Nelson, who conceived the Door County Idol on the model of the American Idol, is the director of the show. She is assisted by students Tanner Lundquist and Jackie Nelson. DoorCountyDailyNews.com broadcasters Nick Freimuth and Karyn Klement will serve as co-hosts of this year Idol.

This year’s judges include community members with an extensive knowledge of performance. A vocalist and actor, Hervy Hodges has performed in various Door County theatrical companies. Jeanne Kuhns is a singer/songwriter/musician who has recorded two albums and appears throughout the peninsula. Larry Thoreson is a member of the Paul Sills Community Theatre and has appeared in a dozen of its productions.

In addition to the judges “weighted” votes, the audience will also cast their votes for their favorite contestant. The combined votes will determine the winner of the 2009 Door County Idol.

In honor of the Door County Idol’s 5th anniversary, the four past winners are returning to perform. Maren Larsen is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Lee Spude is a junior at Marion College in Fond du Lac, Matt Burress is a freshman at McNally Smith College, and Devin Thomas is a freshman at St. Norbert College.

“Every year this show gets better and better,” said Nelson. “And to have all of our past winners return is a real treat. We’re going all out to give everyone a memorable evening. And based on last year’s response we are planning on a sold-out show.”

Tickets for the Door County Idol are $8, adults and $5, students. All tickets are available at the Door Community Auditorium box office, by phone (920.868.2728), or via the http://www.dcauditorium.org. The Door Community Auditorium is located in Fish Creek, just north of the town center on Highway 42.