The nerves were high as all contestants brought their best performances to the stage in hopes of advancing to the last round. The show featured ballads, original songs, musical theater excerpts, singer-songwriters, instruments, video montages, acting, set pieces and costumes. The judges addressed the performers with more intense feedback as the culmination of the contest approaches.

Over the past several weeks, the original 35 contestants who registered for the contest have been narrowed down to 14 semi-finalists, fierce contenders for one of the 10 spots in the finale. Each act presented a performance that they produced themselves with advice from a production team and a panel of judges. The judges for season 12 are seasoned professionals in music and performing arts and include Steve Davis, Jamie Lee, and CGT Producer Ylsa Maj Giuffre. Technical director is Sara “the greatest” Rafaloski, Executive Producer and AV operator is Angelo Giuffre, and MegaSound joins the team for the audio and lighting for the show.

The community is invited to be part of the live voting audience for Finale Night at 7 p.m. Monday. The last night of the contest will feature the ten contestants in the first act. The polls will be open to vote at intermission. The audience and contestants will get to see the judges and producers of the contest take the stage in the second act and will include the Spire’s own house band IN Crowd, featuring a guest performance by Jamie Lee, old time band Deep Fried and Dipped in Honey, season 12 contestants and a few surprise guests. The winner will be announced live on stage at the end of the show!

The final 10 selected by the audience to compete for the grand prize, in no particular order, are: Jolee Schultz, Trenton Shutters, Isaac Sinatra, Jake Anderson, Miranda Wilcox, Dewayne Moore, Derek Davis and Angel Busch, Thee Ukaladz, Danelle Donelson and Aly Dalton.

Pictured are two of the semi-finalists who competed Monday night in Chautauqua’s Got Talent. The public is invited to be part of the live voting audience for Finale Night at 7 p.m. Monday. Submitted photos

Chautauqua’s Got Talent is presented by InSpire Jamestown in conjunction with The Post Journal, 106.9KISS FM, and MegaSound. Tickets are $12 presale at www.inspirejamestown.com or $15 at the door. Specific discounts, group rates and tickets for children available by request. Anyone wearing an In Crowd or official Spire Theater InSpire shirt from current or previous events will get free admission. Concessions will be available. The audience is given a unique code as their ticket to electronically vote for their favorite performers during the show. Chautauqua’s Got Talent is also on Facebook.

The Spire Theater is located at 317 E. Third St. in Jamestown. For more information on the finale of the Chautauqua’s Got Talent competition, find The Spire Theater or Chautauqua’s Got Talent on Facebook.