Friday, Oct. 03, 2008

2 young Keller performers take to the Rising Star stage Oct. 11

By A. LEE GRAHAM

When Taylor Houtman takes the Roanoke stage, the Southlake girl hopes to dazzle new audiences.

So do almost 20 others performers pioneering Celebrate Roanoke’s Rising Star stage.

For the first year, the Oct. 11 event has reserved an entire platform for performers younger than 21. But the talent is not pint-sized.

"No, we have some great performers here," said Amy Radford, the city’s marketing manager.

Area artists are rehearsing for the big day, and Taylor is no exception.

"I’m excited and I’m nervous," said Taylor, 10, a fourth-grader at Old Union Elementary School in Southlake.

Though young, Taylor already has entertained audiences from Grapevine to Southlake and hopes to win over new fans in Roanoke. Each day, she returns from school and rehearses "Change" by Taylor Swift and "Crazy Dreams" by Carrie Underwood.

She figures going country will go a long way toward winning new fans.

"Her range is as good as some high school kids," boasts Jay Houtman, Taylor’s father.

Appearing before Taylor’s 1:05 p.m. stage time is Signe Naranjo.

Like Taylor, the Keller girl has considerable stage experience. But Roanoke is a far cry from Las Vegas, where the 7-year-old wowed record label bigwigs at a talent and acting convention.

"The songs I’m doing are very easy, and I have them all down," said Signe, perfecting renditions of Duffy’s "Mercy" and "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid movie.

"I practice every day after school. It’s really fun," said Signe, a student at Bette Perot Elementary School in Keller.

By sheer coincidence, Signe and Taylor hold The Little Mermaid deep in their hearts, with Signe recreating portions on the Roanoke stage and Taylor singing along during her "early years."

"She memorized The Little Mermaid word for word," said her father.

But Taylor and Signe are just two of many young performers perfecting their Roanoke repertoire.

Beginning at 10:15 a.m., the Rising Star lineup features Sarah Faris of Southlake, Dylan Wall of Justin, Holley Jacobson of Colleyville, Madelyn Winter of Colleyville, Lexy Merrick of Grapevine, Wade Hampton of Colleyville, Madeleine Hickman of Colleyville and Kaitlyn Tucker of Keller.

After a 12:15 p.m. pie auction, audiences can expect Trevor Chadwick of Haslet, Kelsey Taylor of Grapevine, Knuckleheads from Flower Mound, Last Bus to Alcatraz from Trophy Club, Poetic Delirium from Roanoke, Jesse Vick Band from Haltom City and the Norwood Twins of Saginaw.

Wrapping things up at 8:45 p.m. is Roanoke act Spellbound.

At least 10,000 revelers are expected for Celebrate Roanoke, triple the turnout from 2006 when the annual festival expanded from a modest gathering behind the Community Center. But with live music, several sponsors and participation from other cities, what started small grows each year.

"Plus we have some pretty unique things," said Radford, referring to historic reenactments and storytellers as well as karaoke from 6 to 8 p.m., with Roanoke Mayor Carl "Scooter" Gierisch Jr. set to sing the first song.

Among Main Stage events are staged gunfights, a street dance and Imagination Station.