On October 12, 2021, ten talented senior adults will get the chance to shine as part of the 3rd Annual Morning Pointe “Seniors Got Talent, Franklin” showcase produced by the Morning Pointe Foundation in conjunction with Morning Pointe Senior Living at the Franklin Theatre. Following in the footsteps of similar competitions in the Knoxville and Chattanooga areas, Morning Pointe seeks to showcase local senior talent and celebrate the young-at-heart. The show is back in person following a one year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Auditions for “Seniors Got Talent, Franklin” will be held online this year through September 12. Participants are not required to be Morning Pointe residents; anyone 62 years of age or older may apply. Acts showcasing talents of all kinds are welcome but should not exceed three minutes in length. Ten seniors will ultimately be selected to perform in the show. Aspiring performers can sign up to audition—as well as upload their audition file—by going to www.morningpointefoundation.com/seniorsgottalent and clicking on the Franklin information box.
The grand finale of “Seniors Got Talent, Franklin” will be held at 7:00 pm on October 12 featuring local celebrity judges. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners—including a $250 cash prize for first place. Tickets for the grand finale can be purchased at the door for $20 or online in advance at franklintheatre.com. Those who wish to inquire about VIP sponsorships should contact Morning Pointe Foundation executive director Audra Hopkins by telephone at (423) 278-9738.
Last held in 2019, the “Seniors Got Talent, Franklin” competition fielded some wonderfully entertaining acts that brought down the house. First place winners were husband and wife duo Ano (86) and Raphael Missirian (94), who sang a beautiful Armenian love song. Ventriloquist Ken Karter (84) took second place, and Barbara Young (72), an accomplished baton twirler, won third place. John Oates of famed musical duo Hall & Oates served as a special guest judge.
“This is definitely an event you won’t want to miss. Our contestants are going to give the audience a wildly entertaining show while also providing them with an engaging opportunity to give back to a very worthy cause, senior caregiver support and education and scholarships for future nurses,” said Audra Hopkins, executive director of the Morning Pointe Foundation.
The Morning Pointe Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living founded by Tennessee-based senior healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow. The 501(c)3 nonprofit public service organization was created in 2014 to provide caregiver support programs, sponsor educational awareness events, and fund clinical scholarships to advance the care of seniors throughout the Southeast. Morning Pointe Senior Living, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, develops, owns, and manages 35 Morning Pointe personal care and The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence communities in five southeastern states.
