WNIT's RISING STAR MAGNIFICENT 7 LIVE IN CONCERT Set for Tonight at Palais Royale

Lampkin Magic Productions presents WNIT's RISING STAR MAGNIFICENT 7 LIVE IN CONCERT at the Palais Royale, 105 West Colfax Avenue, South Bend, tonight, October 11, at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $20.00 and on sale now at the Morris Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 574-235-9190 or 800-537-6415, or online at www.MorrisCenter.org. The Morris Box Office is open regular business hours Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 p.m. and is located at 211 North Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana. Tickets can also be purchased with credit card at Morris Ticket Outlets: Hammes Bookstore & Café located in Eddy Street Commons, South Bend, IN; O'Brien Recreation Center, 321 East Walter Street, South Bend; and Super Sounds Catalog Center located within TG Music, 123 South Main Street, Goshen, IN.

A benefit for WNIT, the two hour event hosted by WNIT's Gordy Young, will feature the top 7 performers from WNIT's Rising Star Contest, which recently took place the week of July 29th. Featuring the winner, spoken word artist DARA MARQUEZ, the first runner up, singer BRANDon Williams; and 3rd place runner up, dance duo KATE McGOWAN and Matthew Smith. Joining them will be singer BILLY D, singer/songwriter JOEY GARCIA, singer CAROLYN LADUE, and singer/songwriter, IVORY WEST. The concert will feature contemporary songs, spoken word and ballroom dancing.

Rising Star was a search for the brightest and best talent in the entire Michiana region. The competition opened in January with over 155 applicants and eliminated with the top five performers from each of five regions - Benton Harbor, South Bend, Elkhart, Warsaw and Culver - competing on WNIT channel 34.1 each evening from July 28 through August 2. Visit WNIT and Lampkin Magic Productions on Facebook and Twitter.

DARA MARQUEZ was born in Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico, and came to the U.S. with her when she was 3 years old. She has lived in Elkhart, Indiana and graduated from Concord Community Schools. She is currently a student at Saint Mary's College studying chemical engineering and participates in several clubs such as Society of Women Engineers, La Fuerza, and Belles Connect.

BRANDon Williams has been singing and acting since his junior year of high school. He is a Hoosier Star Adult Division first place winner. Brandon has performed with the Laporte County Symphony Orchestra and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in Footloose, Little Shop of Horrors, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Scrooge the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, The Fantasticks, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and most recently Rent the Musical. Brandon is currently a senior at Purdue University North Central majoring in Human Resource Management while pursuing his dream of performing.

KATE McGOWAN was raised in South Bend and began dancing at age 6 at Southold Dance Theatre, where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and lyrical. She also took her dancing talents to the stage in various productions; such as Anything Goes, Singing in the Rain, and Cabaret. Kate has been teaching Ballroom, Latin, and Swing dancing for over 2 years. She also competes in the Professional American Rhythm Division.

Matthew Smith has been dancing for 8 years and teaching Ballroom, Latin, and Swing dancing for over 6 years and is currently a full-time instructor at DanceSport. He competes professionally in the American Rhythm Division ( finishing as high as 4th in the finals at the Indiana Challenge in 2010 & 2011) and Pro/Am with his students. He also enjoys art illustration, graphic design and martial arts.

IVORY WEST is a 17 year old singer/songwriter/guitarist who recently picked up the ukelele. She grew up in Warsaw, Indiana, and is now living in Pierceton. A senior this year; she sang her first solo in church at the age of 2, started writing in the third grade, and began performing professionally when she was 13. Three of West's albums are available on iTunes, and she performs all around the Northern Indiana area. Her biggest accomplishment was opening for Collin Raye this past May.

CAROLINE LADUE is a senior in the Nursing School at Purdue University in West Lafayette. After graduation in December she will take her boards to become an RN and would like to pursue a career in the Labor and Delivery or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.. She was born in North Carolina and has spent most of her life in Granger, Indiana with her family. Caroline has performed in musicals during high school, the Purdue women's varsity choir Purduettes, and cantered for church. She works at Memorial Hospital on South Bend and enjoys golf and crafts.

BILLY D started singing and performing with his brothers and in church when he was 4 years. He has been the lead vocalist in a number of local bands including Krisis, Trumptite and Fresh Band in the 70's and early 80's. For more than 15 years, he was the lead singer with the Quick Change band. For the last 5 years, he has performed solo at the Nappanee Apple Festival, weddings, and private parties.

Ralph Lampkin, Jr. is the owner of Lampkin Magic Productions and owner of Lampkin Music Group. A Concert/Cabaret/Promotions firm, his career spans 30 years throughout NY, Chicago, LA and South Bend. Clients include Tony winners, Alice Ripley, Donna McKechnie and Hinton Battle, Bob Dorough (Schoolhouse Rock fame), Broadway personality Karen Mason, South Bend native Randy Kelly, Jazz Sensation Spider Saloff, produced at such venues as Weill Hall/Carnegie Hall in New York, Apollo Theater in Chicago, North Shore Performing Arts Center in Skokie, Illinois, Mercury Theater, the Bailiwick Theater. Center on Halsted. and Steppenwolf Theaters. Off Broadway at the Producer's Club in New York and in LA at Avery Schreiber Theater. Feinstein's at the Regency. Don't Tell Mama, Danny's Skylight Room, Metropolitan Room, and Gardenia in LA. LMG has provided promotions for the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan; the Broadway Theater League and Trio's Jazz Club, to name a few. Lampkin Magic is a new video Production Company specializing in music, film and documentary work. Ralph was recently one of the judges for the Rising Star Contest at WNIT.

PHIL PATNAUDE has been involved in theater most of his adult life. Starting with a BA Degree from Indiana University in Communication and Theater, to Resident Scenic Designer for South Bend Civic, Technical Director for South Bend School Corporation's Firefly Festival and Notre Dame Opera, Guest Artist for Saint Mary's College, his love of theater along with expertise in video and photography gives Phil the opportunity to use these gifts for this show. He enjoys new experiences and challenges.

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