A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about several exciting activities taking place in Kinston and Lenoir County. Shortly after that column appeared, I learned of a call for auditions that could help residents end up on “The Road to New York.”

From 12 noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, children and adults will audition at the Kinston High School Performing Arts Center for a chance to win expense-paid trips to New York City to perform for Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater. The application fee to audition is $10 per person.

The tour is the intellectual property of Next Level Veterans. This independent, talent-seeking tour has been on the road for ten years. Next Level Veterans Outreach Campus Treatment Center is a 501(c)3 nationally accredited medical and mental health veterans treatment center specializing in traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, military sexual trauma, and peer support.

Next Level Veterans provides an array of free and comprehensive mental health services. Not only does the organization serve as a First Responder for those in crisis, but it also seeks to provide services to help veterans reintegrate into the community.

“Although we take our winners exclusively to The Apollo, we are completely independent of the Apollo and have ownership of our own brand. We decide on where we tour, how we tour – and we like it like that,” said Captain Newbern, senior tour and competition producer.

“The Apollo allows us to use its name as part of the grand prize in exchange for bringing our contestants to their auditions. We use our own brand name for touring, which is ‘The Road to New York Open Call Auditions National Talent Competition Tour.’”

Located in Harlem, NY, The Apollo Theater is a national treasure and a historical site that has impacted the popularity of African American culture and music around the world. The Apollo held its first amateur night in 1934 at the height of segregation. Since its inception, the Apollo has hosted American musical icons such as Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Whitney Houston – to name just a few.

Contestants selected from the auditions on May 14 will appear in the big show at the Kinston High School Performing Arts Center at 6 p.m. on June 25. The cost of admission for the June 25 show in Kinston is $20 per person. Contestants selected from this show receive expense-paid trips to New York.

On the night of the big show, the tour will honor and give awards to three musical legends from the Savannah High School Alumni: Robert “Dick” Knight, Ira Wiggins, and Marvin Wiggins.

“We will also honor and give an award to Maceo Parker of the James Brown Band, a fellow Kinston native,” Newbern said.

The June 25 show will also host and honor Miss Black North Carolina USA, Eulanda Throne.

“In addition to the great children and adult competition, the tour will have several secret surprise guests that we are not advertising. It’s a special treat for the people who attend the June 25 show,” Newbern added.

The show will be filmed on location in Kinston and nationally televised.

Anyone interested in auditioning for a chance to be a star should call Captain Newbern at 919-323-6920.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.