NIGHT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD STARS!

Youth with winning talent in the 2009 show.

For the past 40 years, the New York City Housing Authority has been discovering and developing talent -- young and old -- as a part of its annual Talent Search Competition and Talent Show. This year NYCHA is proud to host the 40th Annual Talent Show at Harlem's legendary Apollo Theater on Saturday, April 10th from 2pm to 5pm.

I've been involved with the show for over 20 years," said NYCHA's Deputy General Manager of Community Operations, Hugh Spence."I've seen it evolve to a professionally staged show for amateur talent."

All of the Talent Show's performers hail from a NYCHA housing development and compete in one of six categories: Vocal Performance (Pop, Ballads, Religious or Folk Music); Classical Music; Instrumental; Dance; Comedy; and Drama (Reading and Poetry). But, great as the night of stars is, the performance is only the main event of a broader embrace of the arts.

The Talent Show "is not just an event," says NYCHA Creative Arts Manager, Juan Santiago, "it's a program out of which we have an event," he added. "We're not putting people on stage who've done this all their lives," Santiago says. Instead, NYCHA is molding raw talent with the help of professional directors, coaches and artists. Many performers say their participation in this free NYCHA Performing Arts program is an opportunity not to be missed.

"I wanted to do something with my time instead of just going straight home from work and going to bed," said Sheila Wheeler of Gompers Houses, who performed a bluesy, soul-filled rendition of the Lou Rawls classic, "Tobacco Road," at last year's Talent Show. "It's a lot of work, and then you have to put feeling into it--and I'm just starting to get the feeling part," she said with a laugh. 'It's fun though."

"These people are giving of themselves--teaching the tenants skills for free that people pay a lot of money for," said Talent Show Stage Manager, Michele Noble about the director, vocal coach and choreographer who prepared contestants for the 2009 Talent Show.

"I enjoy working with people who have a passion for art and may not be formally trained or have an opportunity to formally train, but still have a desire to share it," said, Broadway choreographer Kenya U. Massey, who counts Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple, among her credits.

But not everything is peace, love and good times.

"I kind of beat them up, get them in there, work them out," Broadway singer and last year's vocal coach Cheryl Freeman said. "They call the room the Torture Chamber."

In spite of the rigorous rehearsal schedule and the commitment required of each Talent Show contestant, performers look forward to returning each year.

"The reason why it's important to me is it's a chance for me to have fun on stage, not just go on stage to win anything, but just to have fun," said young Idja Ferguson of Tremont Houses, who performed a West African drum-accompanied spoken word and dance number. "I dream to be the second Will Smith," he added.

Or, maybe the first Idja Ferguson.

To learn more about the NYCHA Talent Search Competition and Talent Show visit our Community Programs and Services web page at www.nyc.gov/nycha or call to speak with one of NYCHA's Community Coordinators: 212-306-3511.