A longtime supporter and unexpected contestant won the audience vote at NEPA Scene’s Got Talent on Tuesday, May 10, proving once again that it’s not only anybody’s game, but that first-time performers can win right alongside more experienced acts every week at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant.
Scranton photographer Lisa Petz has been writing her own music and debuted a song online recently, but she had never performed live in front of an audience before. Despite her nervousness, her tenacity and originality impressed the crowd, leaving only one slot left in the Finals Showcase that will be decided tonight.
Week 11 performers:
Music: Adam Fox, Tony Moran, Mike Chernesky, Lisa Petz, Joe Craig, and Mary Scheller
Comedy: Ray Meoni, Ted Hebert, Elliott Elliott, Russell Austin, Erich Drexler, Bryan Walsh, Jillian Chiaro, J-Ass, and Tom Sigurdsson
Petz won $50 in cash, provided by Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, and a slot in the Finals Showcase on May 31, where the 12 winners (now 14 winners due to ties) from 12 consecutive weeks will compete in front of a panel of judges for the grand prize – $250 cash courtesy of Laugh Out Lepka’s Comedy; a $100 gift card from Fidelity Bank; a summer backyard prize package with a fire pit, wooden deck chair, grill, and cooler from Coors Light and LT Verrastro, Inc.; a headlining slot at the 2016 Electric City Music Conference; and a guest spot on an episode of the NEPA Scene Podcast. The second place winner will receive $100 cash.
Sponsored by Coors Light, LT Verrastro, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Fidelity Bank, Laugh Out Lepka’s Comedy, and Thirst T’s, NEPA Scene’s Got Talent takes the format of an open mic night and turns it into a friendly competition, inviting local musicians, comedians, poets, performance artists, magicians, actors, and more to perform on Thirst T’s stage every Tuesday at 7 p.m. through May 17.
At the end of each night, audiences who have enjoyed the free live show will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite act. The winner each week will receive $50 in cash and the headlining slot for the following Tuesday, and all other performers are encouraged to compete again as often as they’d like or simply show off their talents for fun. Everyone participating is featured weekly on nepascene.com.
