6th Door County Idol Competition at DCA

Door County teens will compete for the title of “2010 Door County Idol” at the Door Community Auditorium (DCA) on Saturday, February 6 at 7 pm. For the first time in Door County Idol history, due to an overwhelming number of audition participants, the group seeking the title has grown from the standard six up to eight.

The eight finalists, selected from over 30 teens that auditioned, represent all of Door County’s high schools. Last year’s runner-up, Monica Lenius, from Southern Door, is the sole returnee from last year’s group. Two young men, Conrad McDonald and Ainslie Cornell, will represent Washington Island this year. Sturgeon Bay Sophomore Lauryn Davison is the youngest of the group at 15. Another Sturgeon Bay High School student, Gretchen Hathaway, often performs around the community with fellow contestant and Sevastopol High School senior Rachael Wilson. Rounding out the group this year are Gibraltar juniors Whitney House and Lilli Nelson.

The Door County Idol show is based on the popular American Idol, but rather than an elimination series, crowns its winner in just one night. Each contestant will perform two songs of their choice, sometimes accompanied by Ben Larsen on guitar, with a backup CD, a pianist, or self-accompaniment on piano or guitar. Audience participation is crucial, as each audience member will have the opportunity to vote. Three judges will critique the performances as they occur and will also vote, with weighted votes, at the end of the performances.

Judges for Door County Idol traditionally change each year and represent various aspects of the local entertainment and business community. This year’s judges are: Christie Webber, co-founder of Steel Bridge Songfest; David Eliot, co-owner and founder of the Peninsula Pulse and DCA Board member; and Alan Kopischke, development director at the Peninsula Players.

Nick Freimuth, DoorCounty DailyNews.com broadcaster, and his wife Karyn, will serve as co-hosts of the event. Friemuth is an accomplished singer himself and hosts a special radio program weekly dedicated to the arts.

“The bar was certainly raised last year,” commented Kristy Nelson, producer of Door County Idol. “But this year we had our largest response to auditions.”

Assisting Nelson is co-producer, Holly Feldman, who holds a degree in Arts Management and Theatre and serves as the Isadoora Theatre president, and student interns, Sophie Nelson and Tanner Lundquist.

The DCA hosts the event, which is additionally supported by Cynthia Stiehl, The Fish Creek Civic Association, On Deck Clothing Company, Novel Ideas Book Store and The Bistro at Liberty Square.

Tickets for the Door County Idol Show are $8 for adults and $5 for students, 18 and under. All tickets are available at the DCA box office, by phone (920.868.2828), 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.