American Kids Inc. 2009 National Finals

At the Baldknobbers Theatre, 2835 W. Highway 76.

American Kids Inc. 2009 National Competition, July 13 through 17, 2009.

Competition begins at 9 am Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with an awards ceremony on Friday morning (Wednesday is performance workshops, no competitions).

The competition ends with the AllStar Show at 2 p.m. Friday, July 17. The AllStar Show is where 25 of the top acts are showcased. One winner will be selected as Performer of the Year and win a $1,500 cash prize and a guest appearance on The Penny Gilley Show on RFD-TV.

National and celebrity judges will judge the Preliminaries and the AllStar Show.

The 2009 AllStar Show judges are:

• Deana Martin - influential American singer, actress and performer and the daughter of entertainer, Dean Martin


• Nicci Gilbert - Grammy nominated/platinum-selling singer/songwriter, actor


• Penny Gilley - singer, television star, recording artist


• Mike Stanglin - former regional country promotion manager for Capitol Records and Columbia/Epic Records, music publisher, producer


• Chase Curtis - award-winning, lifelong entertainer and magician

(Last year's - 2008 - judges included Jason Pritchett, 2007 finalist on "America's Got Talent," Barbara Fairchild, Grammy nominated singer and performer, and Louise Harrison, sister of The Beatles' George Harrison and developer of Liverpool Legends, Gary S. Paxton, Grammy winner, and Jason Yeager, 2008 "American Idol" finalist. 2008 AllStar judges included Tyree Mc Lyn, casting producer for "America's Got Talent," Rickey Schultz, founder and president of Zebra Records, John Beasley, musician and producer who has worked with shows such as "American Idol," "America's Got Talent" and "Singing Bee.)

In addition, many American Kids national finalists will be showcased on various indoor and outdoor Branson stages throughout the week:

• July 12: Young performers will be at the Grand Village 2-3 pm
  


• July 13: Young performers will be at the Grand Village 4-5 pm and 6-7 pm


• July 14: they will be performing at Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop on the dock at Branson Landing 1:30-3:30 pm
  


• July 15: American Kids will be featured in a pre-show at the Hamner Barber Variety Theatre (about 7:30 pm)


• July 16: they will be performing at Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop on the dock at Branson Landing 1:30-3:30 pm
  


• July 16: American Kids will be featured in a pre-show at the Baldknobbers Theatre (about 7:30 pm)


• July 18: Young performers will be at the Grand Village 11 am - noon and 5-6 pm


• July 19: The entertainer judged as the top performer in the gospel category will be invited to perform on July 19 at 10 am at the Grand Old Gospel Hour at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater
  

Some 250 acts and more than 100 kids will compete in this annual talent contest. These young entertainers have been preparing since January and are competing for up to $9,000 in cash and prizes and the title of Performer of the Year.

Shows are July 13-17, 2009.