MHS alums Rio Clemente, Jill Abramovitz among judges for Morristown’s Got Talent; tickets almost gone

Jill Abramovitz
Jill Abramovitz
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Rio Clemente
Rio Clemente

A pair of Morristown High School success stories will be among the judges for Morristown’s Got Talent on Feb. 25, 2015.

Jill Abramovitz
Jill Abramovitz

But if you want to see what Rio Clemente and Jill Abramovitz will be judging, you had better buy your tickets fast — only a few remain for the competition at the Mayo Performing Arts Center,  according to the Morris Educational Foundation.

“We are close to selling out the theater once again this year!” Kim Pistner, talent show chairperson, said in a statement.

Clemente, a Juilliard-trained pianist known as the “Bishop of Jazz,” and Abramovitz, a Broadway actress whose credits include Cinderella, 9 to 5 and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, are alumni of Morristown High School.

They will team with Jane Stuart, a jazz vocalist, actress and tap dancer; and Jeff Friday, founder of FilmLife Inc. and producer of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), as judges of the show.

Jane Stuart
Jane Stuart

 

Jeff Friday
Jeff Friday

Sixteen acts  from Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains will compete for $2,500 in prize money.

A $1,000 prize will go to the top contestant aged 19 and over; a like amount will be claimed by someone 18 or younger.

And the audience favorite–as voted via text message–will go home with $500.

The eighth annual edition of Morristown’s Got Talent will be hosted once again by Tara Bernie,  Emmy-nominated senior producer for NBC’s Access Hollywood.

Last year’s show raised more than $70,000 for programs to benefit the Morris School District.

MORE ABOUT MORRISTOWN’S GOT TALENT 2015

FROM THE MORRIS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION:

Morristown, New Jersey, February 16, 2015 – The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) has announced that tickets are on sale now for its eighth annual “Morristown’s Got Talent Powered by You!’ show. The talent show will showcase the best amateur talent from Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township. The event will be held on Feb. 25, 2015, 7 pm at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey. Over seventy acts auditioned for the show.

There is a $1,000 cash prize for 1st place for contestants ages 19 and over, $1,000 cash prize for 1st place for contestants ages 18 and under, and a $500 award for the “Audience Choice” Winner which will be voted on the night of the show.

Four distinguished judges from the arts profession will judge the competition.  They are Rio Clemente, world renowned master classical and jazz pianist, composer and music director; Morristown High School alumnus Jill Abramovitz, Broadway actress who has appeared in “Cinderella”, “9 to 5” and “Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.”; Jane Stuart, an experienced jazz vocalist, actress and tap dancer; and Jeff Friday, founder of FilmLife, Inc and producer of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), and television broadcast of the Black Movie Awards (BMA).

This year’s Master of Ceremonies and host of the show will be Morristown-resident Tara Bernie, Emmy-nominated senior producer for NBC’s Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood LIVE.

“The Morris Educational Foundation is very excited about our 8th anniversary production of Morristown’s Got Talent. We are proud to give our community’s local amateur talent an opportunity to perform in front of their hometown, and in a top notch facility such as the Mayo Performing Arts Center” said Kim Pistner, MEF Board Member and Chairperson of the Morristown’s Got Talent Committee. “We are close to selling out the theater once again this year!”

Typically a sold out theater, purchase your tickets now for the event at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South Street, Morristown, NJ; by calling 973-539-8008 or online at www.mayoarts.org.

Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center is lead sponsor fort this year’s show. “The Morris Educational Foundation is a integral part of the Morris School District and this fund raising event will further the Foundation’s ability to distribute financial and other resources to and for the Morris School District for enrichment programs and other projects aimed at enhancing the quality of education and educational opportunities for students in the district, “added Molly Servais, Chair of the Board of the MEF.

Last year, the event raised over $70,000 for the Morris Educational Foundation.

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