WC_031518

16 | March 15, 2018 | The winnetka Current news
winnetkacurrent.com
Taking center stage
Winnetka youth
perform at annual
Winnetka’s Got
Talent show
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
Pre-performance jitters
didn’t stop a group of local
kids from bravely showcasing
their skills during
the Winnetka Park District’s
annual Winnetka’s
Got Talent competition
this weekend, resulting in
a variety show filled with
talented young performers
eager to have their moment
in the limelight.
Everyone from singers
and dancers to comedians
and musicians packed the
auditorium at Carleton
Washburne School on
Saturday, March 10, performing
in front of three
discerning judges — Heidi
Joosten, Trinity Lichter
and Cindy Leske.
“An event like this one
is a great opportunity for
kids who love the performing
arts to strut their stuff
outside of school and for
a totally different crowd,”
said Toby Ross, recreation
supervisor with the Winnetka
Park District. “I give
these kids a ton of credit
for having the courage, at
a young age, to get up on
stage and proudly show
the crowd their skills; it’s
a great way to build selfconfidence.”
After performers finished
their presentations,
judges gave feedback,
complimenting the participants
on stage presence,
eye contact, preparedness
and more. Most importantly,
Leske explained, the
judges looked for originality
and the ability to please
a crowd.
“First off, I’m just blown
Bros with Bows play “La Rejouisance” on their string
instruments.
Chicago Loves Dance breakdancers entertain the
crowd.
away by the talent here today,”
Leske said. “I have
known some of these kids
for years, and to see them
confidently get up on stage
and sing, dance or make
us laugh is just incredible.
What I really noticed today
was how poised these kids
are; they can handle themselves
on stage, and none
of them seemed afraid to
perform.”
Several young ladies impressed
the judges and the
crowd with their singing
talents, including: Emma
Foster, Caroline Wolfe,
Keira Larkin, Dylan
Thornton, Carolina Gelfi,
Charlotte Crocker and
Clementine Bransfield,
all who were declared the
third-place winners for
their talent and ability to
evoke emotion.
String quartet, Bros
with Bows, was awarded
runner-up status for their
group performance of “La
Rejouissance.”
Coming in first place
was Winnetka’s Karys
Thornton, whose comedy
routine wowed the
judges while keeping the
audience in stitches. She
brought with her an enlarging
machine, capable
of making the tiniest item
ginormous.
First, she turned a Cheerio
into a bagel-sized ‘o’,
a mini-stuffed animal into
a giant stuffed animal, a
small bouncy ball into a
basketball, and finally,
turned a Barbie into a human-sized
woman, bearing
a striking resemblance to
her mother, Kendra Thornton.
After winning her
award, Karys Thornton,
Dylan Thornton, of Winnetka, sings “Castle on a Cloud” Saturday, March 10, at the
Winnetka Park District’s annual Winnetka’s Got Talent youth competition. PHOTOS BY
ALEXA BURNELL/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
Winnetka resident Karys Thornton wins first place for her comedy routine about an
object enlarging machine.
who appeared cool as a
cucumber throughout her
performance, reveled she
was actually very nervous
beforehand but very excited
to have won.
Kendra Thornton said
she appreciated the chance
for both of her girls to
showcase their talents and
learn valuable life skills
along the way.
“What a great opportunity
for kids,” she said. “Being
on stage boosts selfesteem,
giving young kids
public speaking practice
which will be beneficial in
all walks of life. The Park
District did a wonderful job
and they were so helpful at
every step of the way.”
Along with the individual
performers, dancers
from Chicago Loves Dance
kept the crowd entertained
with hot breakdancing and
hip-hop moves that got the
audience clapping in their
seats and giving an extra
festive feel to an already
exciting day.
The Park District also
gave special thanks to
Master of Ceremonies
Richard Laible, Michael
Poupko, Kelsey Raftery,
Chris Varner, Winnetka
Public Schools District 36,
Chicago Loves Dance and
NorthShore Music Institute.