"America's Got Talent" Eyeing Garde Show

The ’s Saturday show won’t include any judges, but performers can submit their acts to a panel of celebrity judges if they so choose.

The theater has announced that America’s Got Talent expressed an interest in scouting the dozens of acts set to perform at the “Take the Stage” show. Executive Director Steve Sigel said the event has been bumped up to begin at noon due to the amount of people who signed up. Sigel estimated that 80 acts, comprising about 200 performers, will entertain an audience.

“It’s phenomenal to see just how many people are anxious to have the opportunity to be on the Garde stage,” he said.

There are no judges, fees, or prizes and people who come to the show are invited to name their own ticket price. However, for those interested in a national airing of their skills may have a friend or family member videotape their act; an area at the front of the theater is being set aside for this purpose. People may then post the video to YouTube and share it with the Garde, which will include the video in their official channel.

Siegal said this channel will be reviewed by producers of America’s Got Talent in early February. The show, aired during the summer on NBC, is similar to Take the Stage in that people displaying all kinds of talent are invited to perform. These performances, however, are judged by Howie Mandel, Piers Morgan, and Sharon Osbourne, who choose a winner to receive a $1 million prize.

“At first we were flattered, and then we thought, ‘What took them so long?’” joked Sigel.

This is the first year the Garde is offering the event, and it runs in conjunction with the events of ’s series of downtown events, known as Hygienic XXXII. Siegal said proceeds from Take the Stage will go toward the  Garde’s community and educational programs.