Eight Compete in Annual Teen Contest Wednesday

Eight Pacific Palisades teens will compete in the annual Teen Contest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in Pierson Playhouse at Theatre Palisades.

The contest is open to young men and young women between the ages of 14 to 18, single and a Palisades resident. Contestants will demonstrate their talent, poise, communication skills and character to vie for the title of Miss Palisades and Mr. Palisades.

The two winners will receive a scholarship, named after the late mistress of ceremonies Cathie Wishnick, and will represent their peers at various Chamber events such as Holiday Ho!Ho!Ho! and monthly mixers. They will also ride in the Fourth of July parade.

The reigning 2012 youths are talented vocalist Kelly Costa, who attends Louisville High, and actor Joel Rosenthal, a student at Palisades High. They will perform during the intermission next Wednesday.

The boys participating this year are PaliHi student David Grinsfelder, who lists his talents as pianist and juggler, and Harvard-Westlake’s Greg Lehrhoff, who will sing and play piano.

Girls in the contest include singer Julie Engel (Harvard-Westlake) and PaliHi students Caitlin Roshani (monologue), Bronte Sorotsky (singer), Tara Vahdani (who will play the flute) and Ellie Sun, whose talent is violin.

The difficult job judging these talented young people will be handled by five judges: Fancy Feet dance instructor Sara Evelyn Edwards; Cal State Long Beach dance instructor Tim Stevenson; local piano teacher Jy Gronner (featured in a September 2012 Palisadian-Post story); former Chamber president and 1993 Mr. Palisades Ramis Sadrieh; and George Wolfberg, a past Pacific Palisades Citizen of the Year.

Choreographer Thea White, as she has done for many years, will provide another lively opening number. The well-coached dancers from Fancy Feet Dance Studio will also entertain while the votes are being tabulated. The emcees will be Cindy Simon, who also serves as an announcer for the Fourth of July parade, and Kelly London, who has won numerous Theatre Palisades acting awards.

The organizing committee includes chairperson Andy Frew, former Miss Palisades Emily Kay, Marge Gold, Chana Messer, Candida Piaggi, Carol Smolinisky, Thea White, Sadrieh and Arnie Wishnick, the Chamber’s executive director.

For tickets ($20 adults, $10 students), call the Chamber office at (310) 459-7963.