1 win short: Colonels finish as SLC runners-up
May 17, 2017
Shrimp are scarce; prices are cheap early in season
May 17, 2017
Five young singers whose voices have graced local theatrical productions and revues took a long ride this past weekend for a shot at brighter lights.
David Rhodes Jr., Kandace Washington Ward, Eugene Triggs Jr., A.J. Diggs , and Ron Casimiro took the eight hour drive from Houma to Austin, Texas to audition for the NBC Network’s “The Voice.”
They joined thousands of other contenders at the Austin Convention Center Saturday, describing the energy in the space as “electric” while describing their personal experiences of standing before the judges who decide whether a contestant will move up to the next level of competition.
Although competing individually, the singers all had a common connection. Each has worked on productions for Houma theatrical producer Lorna Gianelloni, known most recently for her production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Marriott Courtyard.
“It was so worth the trip,” said David, the son of Raceland Pastor David Rhodes Sr. “Traveling with my hometown family was a lot of fun.”
In “Superstar” David plated one of the high priests.
They traveled in an Escalade driven by Eugene, who played Simon Zealotes in “Superstar.” An H.L. Bourgeois High graduate, Eugene is a substitute bus driver for the Terrebonne Parish School District. The Schriever resident also works in retail.
The Escalade, they said, was like a rolling recording studio.
The travelers whiled away the journey singing various songs together and individually, choosing which songs each would use for audition pieces, and just generally having a good time.
“We were all rooting for each other,” David said. “I don’t think there was a point in which we didn’t sing on the way there or the way back. We sang Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, all kinds of soul, R&B and gospel. We even had a few country songs. We talked, we laughed, we reminisced and eventually we were there and eventually we were back. When we got there, the experience of being surrounded by thousands of other signers was great.”
David chose the Luther Vandros version of “The Impossible Dream.”
Ron’s choice was “Oh Baby Baby.” A driver and warehouse worker for Louis Mohana Furniture in Bourg, the Houma resident said he was awed by the experience.
The experience of working in Lorna’s productions, Ron said, was good preparation for the challenge.
“It gives you the opportunity for people to see and feel your emotion through singing,” he said of the local production experience. “It has always been fun. Lorna makes sure we all come together more as a family than just a singing group.”
The performers will not be returning to The Voice – not this year – as none of them were selected to move on the next round of competition.
Each took the disappointment in stride.
And they said they will go to other audition venues for the show and try again.
“Later this year they are auditioning in Philadelphia,” David said. “But I don’t expect I will be driving there.”
Eugene said he is not disappointed, only that much more determined to continue with his career.
“I am feeling good,” he said. “I think each of this did an awesome job.”
Lorna said she doesn’t know why her proteges were not chosen for the show, but admires their stick-to-itness.
“They are all amazingly talented young people who came from great spiritual backgrounds in church, they have power vocally, physically and spiritually,” Lorna said. “It is interesting to look at them preparing for years, the courage it took to head out to Austin. It makes you wonder what’s in the judge’s minds. That’s something I would love to know. What happens to them once they don’t? Do they give up. These five, I know they are going to continue to fight for the dream. They are smart enough and wise enough to know their talent. They’ll be off to the next challenge, because they are pros.”
