Singing. Dancing. Cheering. Playing. Check out some of Orangeburg's most talented youngsters at the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association's first-ever "Orangeburg's Got Talent ... Kids!"

Twenty acts featuring children ages 4 to 18 will be competing for trophies and cash prizes at the event, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Stevenson Auditorium. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The acts are divided into three age divisions -- 4- to 8-year-olds, 9- to 13-year-olds and 14- to 18-year-olds.

"We've got singing, dancing, kids playing instruments, church groups, cheerleaders, dance teams," said Meredith Garris, co-chair of the "Orangeburg's Got Talent ... Kids!" committee. "We have trophies and cash prizes for the winners and first-runners-up in all age divisions. Many of our winners and runners-up will be asked to perform at various city events, especially for DORA, and things around town."

Garris said committee members were excited to receive so many entries for the show.

"We are very impressed with the individual talents," she said. "They (kids) don't have as much opportunity to showcase their talent in public, unless it's through school and church, but we're mixing all of that together into one big show."

"Orangeburg's Got Talent ... Kids!" will take the place of the DORA-sponsored "Orangeburg Idol" this year, Garris said.

"We're not doing Orangeburg Idol in 2009," she said. "This is the first time we've done a children's competition for 4 through 18 (year-olds). ... Instead of having an 'Orangeburg Idol Kids' or 'Orangeburg Idol Jr.,' we decided to showcase all sorts of talent, more than just singing."

"We felt that this would be a great way to showcase the varied talents of our youth in Orangeburg," said Bernice Tribble, executive director of DORA. "We have outstanding talent for the program, and it will be an exciting evening."

In the spirit of "Orangeburg Idol," all money raised from "Orangeburg's Got Talent ... Kids!" will go to DORA.

"Our fund-raising events are all about improving our hometown," Tribble said. "Our primary focus at this time is to improve and add additional parking for the benefit of our shoppers and merchants alike. Our downtown merchants agree that the lack of available and convenient parking is our number one problem in attracting shoppers to the downtown business and shopping district.

"We are also concerned about additional parking for events held in Stevenson Auditorium. When the auditorium was built, there was not the demand for parking that exists today. We have a beautiful state-of-the-art auditorium and need parking to accommodate events at Stevenson."

In addition to being a DORA fund-raiser, the show has other benefits, too, Garris said.

"Of course, the families are going to be so proud to see their kids, but Orangeburg's going to be proud, too," she said. "This is a great way for them (the kids) to get exposure, to get experience on the stage, to give them confidence in front of other people."

Garris said she is a huge supporter of extra-curricular activities that help kids stay out of trouble.

"This is a great way to target that energy into something positive," she said.

General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at WORG's office weekdays before 5 p.m. or reserved with a credit card through DORA by telephone at 803-531-6186.

For more information, call Garris at 803-928-2142.

T&D Features Editor Wendy Jeffcoat Crider can be reached by e-mail at wjeffcoat@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5546. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

The following is a list of the contestants and their respective talents:

4- to 8-year-old division

-- Kathryn Ann (Katie) Connelley, 7, of Orangeburg

Connelley will perform a clogging routine to "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave. She attends Calhoun Academy and has been dancing for four years.

-- Ayanna Monet Daniels, 4, of Orangeburg

Daniels will perform a piano solo, "Willie & Tillie," from the book "Alfred's Basic Piano Library." She attends Andrew Chapel Christian Academy and has been playing the piano for one year.

-- Ky'nia Rowe, 8, of Orangeburg

Rowe will sing "I Love You Lord." She is a student at Mellichamp Elementary School and has been singing for two years.

9- to 13-year-old division

-- Laura L. Brickle, 12, of Branchville

Brickle will sing "Just a Dream" by Carrie Underwood. Brickle is a student at Andrew Jackson Academy and has been singing for 10 years.

-- Will Frierson, 13, of Orangeburg

Frierson will play the guitar and sing "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty. He is a student at Orangeburg Preparatory School and has been playing the guitar for eight years.

-- Ny'elle Patrice Garvin, 10, of Columbia

Garvin will sing "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. She attends Pinegrove Elementary School in Columbia and has been singing for five years.

-- Damien Travis Jones, 11, of Santee

Jones will sing "There's a Hero" by Billy Gilman. He attends Clarendon Hall and has been singing for five years.

-- Breanna Rowe, 10, of Orangeburg

Rowe will sing "Encourage Yourself" by Yolanda Adams. She attends Mellichamp Elementary School and has been singing since she was 5 years old.

-- Cadra Nicole Salley, 10, of Orangeburg

Salley will sing "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson and will be attending William J. Clark Middle School in the fall.

-- The Carolina Cloggers (Rachel Fogle and Elly Haigler, ages 9 and 10)

Fogle and Haigler have been High Steppin' Cloggers for years.

14- to 18-year-old division

-- Marissa Del Rio, 16, of West Covina, Calif., and Bowman

Del Rio will play the piano and sing an original song. She has been playing the piano since she was 7 years old.

-- God's CopyCats (fourth- through 12th-graders)

God's CopyCats, a creative youth ministry at St. George Baptist Church in Orangeburg, will perform a puppet routine.

-- Shelton Jenkins, 15, of Orangeburg

Jenkins will sing "Work on Me" by the Brown Brothers. He attends Howard Middle school and has been performing since he was 12 years old.

-- Orangeburg Prep JV Cheerleaders (15 girls ages 12 to 14)

The Orangeburg Prep JV Cheerleaders will perform a cheer-and-dance routine. This squad has only been together two months. In June, its members attended a Universal Cheerleaders Association camp in Myrtle Beach and brought home several awards.

-- Derek A. Priester, 15, of Cope

Priester will perform a piano solo, "Rondo alla Turca" by W.A. Mozart. He is a student at Edisto High School and has been playing for three years.

-- Chelsea Smith, 17, of Orangeburg

Smith, the reigning Orangeburg Queen of Roses, will perform a clogging routine to "Do Your Thing" by Basement Jaxx. She attends Branchville High School and has been clogging for 13 years.

-- Jasmine R. Snell, 18, of Santee

Snell will sing "Will You Be There" by Michael Jackson. She will be attending Winthrop University in the fall and has been singing for 10 years.

-- The Internationals (ages 6 to 15)

The Internationals, a group comprised of members of the children and youth departments of Elloree Baptist Church, will perform the song-and-dance routine "The Hoedown Throwdown" by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus.

-- The St. James Unique Expressions (ages 12 to 16)

The St. James Unique Expressions, a praise team from St. James Church of God in Orangeburg, will perform the praise routine "Order My Steps."

-- Mollie Jean Wiles, 15, of Branchville

Wiles will sing "Shoulda Said No" by Taylor Swift. She is a student at Branchville High School and has been singing for 13 years.

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