HOUGHTON – Applications to audition for the first-ever Keweenaw’s Got Talent competition are due Saturday, according to Visit Keweenaw Managing Director Jesse Wiederhold.

The event will take place in the Rachel Marie Blau Memorial Theater in the Hancock Community Hub, the former Hancock High School building, on Quincy Street.

As of Wednesday morning, Wiederhold said only eight people have applied and more are needed for the show to be a success.

“Hopefully,” he said, “folks are just waiting for the last minute.”

Wiederhold said applications will still be taken after Saturday’s deadline, but organizers would really like to see people sign up by Sunday.

“We truly believe that the Keweenaw has as many talented people as anywhere. We know people have hidden talents,” he said. “Winters are very long here and people need something unique to get through, so we really just want to provide a platform for people to show off these talents, whether it’s music, magic, burping the alphabet, whatever you can do, we want to see it.”

Keweenaw’s Got Talent is a local talent show inspired by the energy of America’s Got Talent, Wiederhold said. The event aims to showcase local talent from across the region. The top winner will receive a $500 grand prize.

The event is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, April 11, starting with the Rising Stars Showcase from 5:30-6:15 pm. Children and youth (ages 17 and under) will have the opportunity to perform for their community, where every young performer is encouraged and applauded – no competition, just pure celebration!

From 6:30-9 p.m. Talent Competition will take place. Adults ages 18 years and older will perform and be judged. The winner will be determined by a panel of judges, and there will also be an audience favorite.

“They’ll be able to vote for the acts they liked the most,” Wiederhold said. “We’re pretty happy. We’ve had great sponsorships already for this first-time event.”

Proceeds from the event will support the Hancock Community Hub and its mission to keep the space open, active, and full of community programming for the Keweenaw, and will go to Right Start UP, a nonprofit organization which purchased the building in 2024.

The Rachael Blau memorial Theater is a beautiful space with lots of capacity, so this is a fundraiser for the Community Hub, to fund much-needed upgrades over time, said Wiederhold.

“Some needed investments coming up in the future are roofing, heating, infrastructure.”

The theater is usable, with a capacity of more than 700, so this is a space we’d like to see used every weekend. We want to see it brought to life.”

Event tickets will be available for purchase online starting in March. More information will be released soon. Local businesses interested in partnering by sponsoring the event are encouraged to contact the Hancock Community Hub at: hancockcommunityhub@gmail.com.

Wiederhold said there is no cost to audition. For more information or to register to audition, visit the URL https://bit.ly/KGT-2026