And the Winners Are …
The NYS 50+ Senior Idol Show took place LIVE on Sunday, November 12, 2017, in Huntington, LI, NY. The 20 finalists – from the over 70 entrants competing came from all over Long Island and the Metro area. This talent-studded group includes singers, dancers and comedians who played to a packed house.
The finalists were:
The Tribunes of Hicksville
Celeste Belletti of the Bronx
Teri George of Medford
Richard Lanna of Dix Hills
Darie Ehrlich of Babylon
Pamela Merrill of Laurelton
Henry Simpkins of Elmont
Laura Lorenzo of Mastic Beach
Ernest Cannava of Blue Point
James DiNapoli of Merrick
Mary Malloy of East Rockaway
Dolores Brown of Wyandanch
Theresa Walton of East Norwich
Sean Farrell of Wantagh
Tony Tufariello of Copiague
Debra Holly of East Northport
Jerrold Fuller of Brentwood
Robert Alvey of Garden City
Kathie Bondhus of Rockaway Park
Larry Dubin of East Meadow
Judges Diane Giattino (founder of the Stage Door School of Dance), Chiara Klein (Managing Artistic Director at MainStage Shakespeare) and Leeana Costa (Radio and TV host and personality) had a difficult time winnowing down the 20 contestants.
But the winner was The Tribunes (Mike Cuomo, Shelly Wengrovsky, Les Levine, Johnny Costello and Bert Archilla), an oldies a cappella group from Nassau County!
Second place went to Celeste Belletti, a musical entertainer with a unique ability to sing and imitate instruments, from the Bronx, and third place to Henry Simpkins, a vocalist with an amazing range, from Elmont.
The Senior Idol competition was started in 2005, as the brainchild of Marie Trotta of 50+ Lifestyles and Ethel Bennet of Ms. NYS Senior America. After a nine-year hiatus, and hundreds and hundreds of requests, the competition was re-staged this year.
For those interested in trying out for next year’s event, send your name, address, phone number and talent (singer, dancer, comedian/enne, etc.) to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..