Lawrence HAS Talent

Tamara Tracz ('25)

Pranav Soleti ('26)

In a remarkable display, "Lawrence Has Talent" assembled an outstanding group of local artists to bring the community of Lawrence an evening full of wonder, laughter, and pure enjoyment to mark the very first talent production the township of Lawrence has ever put on. The stage was brimming with skill, from exciting musical theater acts, to a thrilling rock guitar solo, to a captivating hula hoop performance. Each performance was a dazzling showcase of Lawrence residents’ brilliance, receiving nothing but awe and ovation, and now, it is astonishingly clear that Lawrenceville is full of talented people ready to shine. 

The event itself was very well organized for a first time production. Each performance was introduced with a brief video interviewing the performer about what they wished to do with the prize money, etcetera. Following each video, emcee Rashad Malik Davis would exuberantly welcome the star onto the stage. Even when there were some technical difficulties, Mr. Davis addressed the audience with light humor, jokingly asking how everyone’s earthquake was (referring to the April 5th, 2024 earthquake) and what the audience thought about Beyonce’s new album, Cowboy Carter. 

The pre-performance interviews were sweet because each contestant had a unique response to the question pertaining to what they would do with the prize money. One contestant who put on a dance number said that she would buy more dance costumes, while another dancer said that she would give it to her mom because she spends so much on dance (adorable!). Another contestant said that they would treat their parents to dinner, and another performer said that she would donate some to a children’s hospital.

Last but not least…the winners. For the “18 and over” category the winner was Nikki Rochelle, a multi-talented artist, singer, and songwriter. Next, the winner of the “18 and under” category was Ziyon James, a self-taught piano player. Winner of the “audience’s choice” (which the audience did get to vote for in a live poll online) was…Kyleigh Brennan, a competitive dancer. And finally, the winner of the “trustee vote” was Brianna Polite, who performed a spectacular musical theater act. Congratulations to all the performers!!