Students to compete in talent show at Buskirk-Chumley

In celebration of homecoming week, 14 IU students will compete in “IU’s Got Talent” tonight at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Performances start at 7 p.m. and are scheduled to end at 9:30 p.m. Admission to the event is free.

The event coordinates with the theme of this year’s homecoming week, “Lights, Camera, Action.”

Senior Kate Swanson, director for IU’s Got Talent, said this year’s event will be structured differently than in years past.

“Last year, we had maybe 14 students try out,” Swanson said. “This year, we had 40 students try out. We took 14.”

Auditions for the show took place in September. A small panel of judges from the IU Student Alumni Association decided which acts would move on to the finals.

“It was students judging students,” Swanson said. “We voted at the end of auditions on which acts to bring through.”

Associate Athletic Director Mattie White, Union Board Program Coordinator for Activities and Events Megan Bottoms and Kelley School of Business professor David Rubinstein will judge the show.

Each judge will score acts out of 50 points.

The panel will judge acts based on three criteria — the first two are worth 15 points each and the last is worth 20.

Judges will be looking at stage presence and professionalism, technical ability, creativity, originality and entertainment.

The first, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes.

First place receives $325, second $225 and third $100. The first place winner will also have the opportunity to perform at the IU Dance Marathon.

A prize of $100 will go to the winner of the audience’s choice award.

Nikki Labaschin and Neil Johnson will emcee the show.

“They’re hilarious,” Swanson said. “They’re bringing a huge stand-up element that’s kind of missing from the acts. They’re both involved with Greek life, so I was kind of hoping to get Greek students more involved.”

Swanson said her goal for this year was to have more students in general involved in homecoming events, not only more greek students.

“Greek involvement has been lacking in homecoming events in the past,” Swanson said. “I’ve really been determined to change that. There’s no reason for it to be missing.”

While the student acts will be the main focus of the show, guest acts InMotion Dance Company, Ladies First and Another Round will also perform.

Swanson expressed her excitement at heightened Hoosier involvement in this year’s event.

“Marketing and involving students has been my goal,” Swanson said. “I think total in the show we have over 180 students on campus involved, so there’s a lot of people involved in making this show happen. It’s really exciting that people are taking ownership and helping make the production happen.”

—  Makenzie Holland