Photo: Sandy and the Sandsation Dancers at Seniors Got Talent
Seventy-year-old belly dancer Sandy Larson first wowed the crowd at the Morning Pointe Foundation’s Seniors Got Talent showcase—earning second place and stealing hearts with her spirited performance. Today, she’s gaining national attention, proving that the Seniors Got Talent stage can be just the beginning.
Now, other talented seniors ages 60 and up have their shot to shine. In-person auditions for the 6th Annual Seniors Got Talent Lexington showcase are coming up July 14–22, with locations stretching from Louisville to Richmond. Whether you’re a singer, dancer, musician, or have a one-of-a-kind talent, this could be your moment to take center stage—and maybe even follow in Larson’s footsteps toward something bigger.
Morning Pointe’s Seniors Got Talent show will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the historic Lexington Opera House at 401 W. Short St. downtown.
Keith Williams, third-place winner in the Lexington show last year, shared, “It was just incredible – I haven’t played in a venue like this except maybe in college, so it was amazing.”
Seniors also have a chance to win some big prizes:
- $1,000 grand prize
- $500 second place
- $250 third place
- People’s Choice Award
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How to Audition
Any senior age 60 years or up, or group of seniors with six members or fewer, is eligible to try out. Ten to 12 senior acts will be chosen, and a panel of judges will determine the winners based on technical ability, stage presence and professionalism, appearance/costume, difficulty of act and originality/creativity.
Seniors can also sign up at the website for in-person auditions, which will run July 14-22 at local Morning Pointe Senior Living communities:
- Monday, July 14, from 1-3 p.m. at Morning Pointe of Danville – 100 Birney Place, Danville, KY 40422
- Wednesday, July 16, from 1-3 p.m. at Morning Pointe of Lexington-East – 150 Shoreside Drive, Lexington, KY 40515
- Thursday, July 17, from 1-3 p.m. at The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Lexington – 225 Ruccio Way, Lexington, KY 40503
- Thursday, July 17, from 1-3 p.m. at Morning Pointe of Louisville – 4711 South Hurstbourne Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40291
- Friday, July 18, from 1-3 p.m. at The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Frankfort – 66 C. Michael Davenport Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
- Tuesday, July 22, from 5-7 p.m. at Morning Pointe of Richmond – 1400 Gibson Bay Drive, Richmond, KY 40475
Auditions are also being accepted online at morningpointefoundation.com/events/seniors-got-talent/. The final deadline for all auditions is July 25.
Seniors Got Talent is produced by the Morning Pointe Foundation nonprofit in conjunction with Morning Pointe Senior Living, although the contest is open to any senior. Proceeds from show sponsorships and ticket sales support the Foundation’s funds for scholarships at partner colleges. These include Eastern Kentucky University, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Kentucky State University and Kentucky Community and Technical College.
“We love doing this – it’s a great show, it’s a great cause and such a display of awesome talent to boot,” said Collins and Cox, the 2024 second-place winners in Lexington. “It’s a triple win.”
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A Growing Phenomenon
“Each year, our Lexington Seniors Got Talent show just gets better and better, and the seniors really bring out all the stops,” said Miranda Perez, Morning Pointe Foundation executive director. “We love that not only are we raising funds for the Foundation to help students in the area pursue their education, but we are giving seniors a chance to show that age is just a number.”
Tickets will be $10 plus Ticketmaster and other fees and will go on sale closer to the event.
The Foundation hosts four Seniors Got Talent shows each year. Besides Lexington, shows are held in Tennessee in Chattanooga, Franklin and Knoxville.
About Morning Pointe
The Morning Pointe Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living founded by senior healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow. The nonprofit was created in 2014 and has bestowed more than 146 scholarships in the Southeast to date. For more information, visit morningpointefoundation.com.
Founded in 1997 by Vital and Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates 42 assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states, including 13 in Kentucky. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
