The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) has announced that the deadline to register to audition for its tenth annual talent show, Morristown ONSTAGE has been extended to Wed., De. 7!

The talent show will showcase the best amateur talent from Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township. The event is set to be held on March 1, 2017 at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey.

Four distinguished arts and entertainment professionals will judge the competition including two Morristown High School alumni. Ben Sesar, MHS Class of ’88, accomplished musician, author, teacher and speaker is the lead drummer for country music star Brad Paisley will join fellow alum Aaron Velasquez, Class of  ’10, and previous winner of Morristown ONSTAGE on the judging panel.  Aaron, a successful beatboxer, is currently on a US tour after releasing his LP Bright Moments.

Again this year there will be a $1,000 cash prize for 1st place for contestants ages 19 and over, $1,000 cash prize for first place for contestants ages 18 and under, a $500 award for the “Audience Choice” Winner which will be voted on that night at the show, and a $250 Rossoff Rising Star Award for talent training chosen by the Morristown ONSTAGE Steering Committee.

Auditions are open to anyone who lives, works, trains or goes to school in the towns of Morristown, Morris Township and Morris Plains. Alumni of Morristown High School are also invited to audition. Auditions will take place on Dec. 10, 2016 at Morristown High School.

Anyone interested in auditioning must register at the event’s website, www.morristownonstage.com. The deadline for registering for auditions is now Dec. 7. There is a $20 audition fee.

“We are so excited to celebrate 10 years of extraordinary talent in out community and 10 years of Morristown ONSTAGE raising money to fund initiatives supporting the students in the Morris School District,” said Molly Servais, Morristown ONSTAGE event chair and member of the Morris Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.

“The Morris Educational Foundation is very excited about Morristown ONSTAGE and is pleased to announce that Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center will return as the event’s headline sponsor. We are proud to give our community’s local amateur talent an opportunity to perform in front of their hometown, and in a top notch facility such as the Mayo Performing Arts Center” said Kim Pistner, Chairperson of the Morris Educational Foundation. “We are anticipating selling out the theater once again this year!”

Last year, the event raised over $90,000 for the Morris Educational Foundation. Tickets for the show will go on sale in early 2017 through the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown.