Oaklawn hosts auditions for the second annual Oaklawn’s Got Talent

ELKHART, Ind. -- Oaklawn, Michiana’s leader in mental health and addiction services, will give away $11,000 in cash prizes in May at its second annual Oaklawn’s Got Talent.

Applications to audition are open through October 28, with auditions November 13 at the Lerner Theatre.

Contestants, who must live in Elkhart County or St. Joseph County, will audition before a panel of three judges.

Judges will pick the top four acts to advance to Oaklawn’s Got Talent on May 12, 2023.

There, the audience will vote to determine who wins a grand prize of $5,000, and second- ($3,000), third- ($2,000) and fourth- ($1,000) place prizes.

“Our first Oaklawn’s Got Talent was such a success, and we were wowed by the talent in our community,” said Kari Tarman, Executive Director of the Oaklawn Foundation, the beneficiary of the night’s proceeds. “Not only that, many of the acts had their own stories connected to mental health or substance use issues, and made the night all the more meaningful. We’re looking forward to meeting more of our area’s incredible talent for this year’s show.”

Oaklawn’s Got Talent is Oaklawn’s largest annual fundraiser, and the event will raise money for local mental health and addiction treatment services.

Oaklawn plans to audition 30 acts at the Lerner Theatre on November 13.

Acts can include a variety of entertainment talent – from singers/songwriters and bands to comedians, magicians, dancers and more.

The panel of judges includes Zach Miller, co-host of the B100 Morning Show; Ashley Martin, executive vice president of NIBCO, and Tarman.

Auditions will take place in a friendly and supportive atmosphere and judges won’t critique or criticize acts.

Auditions are open to anyone living in Elkhart or St. Joseph counties, and groups must have at least one member who is a resident of one of the two counties, which make up Oaklawn’s service area.

Oaklawn will take audition applications through October 28.

The application and full contest rules are available at www.oaklawn.org/ogt.

Oaklawn provides mental health and addiction treatment to 27,000 children, adolescents and adults.

Oaklawn — which has campuses in Elkhart, Goshen, South Bend and Mishawaka — offers inpatient and outpatient treatment, as well as residential services for youth.

More information about Oaklawn services can be found at www.oaklawn.org.

Photo credit: Vala Marketing