Have you always wanted to get on stage and strut your stuff?  If so, then CFYT Talent Night is for you.  Taking place on September 30 at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall in Dawson City, Talent Night welcomes all types of performers on stage.

In partnership with the Klondike Visitors Association (KVA), this event is hosted by local Dawson City radio station CFYT Radio 106.9 fm, a non-profit community organization run by the Dawson City Community Radio Society. The society normally receives funding from the Yukon Territorial Government, Yukon Lotteries, The City of Dawson, and the Klondike Visitors Association to maintain equipment and operations.  In addition to regular programming, CFYT offers special broadcasts of community events, and television broadcasts of local events and festivals

Ben Rudis, President of the Dawson Community Radio Society, says no talent is too weird or wacky to be on stage.

“Last year, we had one contestant who sat on stage in silence for two minutes,” he says.  Apparently this went over so well with the audience, the contestant added one more minute of silence as a bonus.

A panel of Dawsonites is enlisted to judge the contestants. Prizes are handed out for first, second and third place, equaling $200, $100, and $50 respectively.

But in case you think there’s nothing but silliness on stage, Rudis begs to differ.

“There are lots of great acts, such as musicians, dancers and comedians,” he says.  “There’s all kinds of variety in this show.”

Rudis himself has been on stage for the last several years, and even placed third one time.  

“I played the kazoo and offered a monologue as a prelude,” he says.

With the help of volunteers, Rudis is in charge of finding a master of ceremonies for the evening, and creating the schedule for the acts, as well as coming up with ideas for some mini games between acts.

Each mini game has a theme, such as moose calling, or broom balancing.  The audience is then invited on stage to participate.  

“We’ll drag people up to be in the mini games willing or un-willing,” says Rudis with a smile.

Prizes for the winners of the games are usually Gerties drink tickets.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m., there will be a band playing during intermission, and the show is expected to run until around midnight.

It is suggested that contestants should sign up ahead of time, however if there are any last minute arrivals, they will be put into the evening’s schedule if possible.

Rudis did not say whether he will be on stage again this year, but he does promise it to be a fun night.

Along with the participants, he says, “people show up for the gambling and stay for the laughs.”

For more information on how to register, email [email protected], or phone the KVA at 993-5575.

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