Only days to go until we discover who will be Senior Superstar 2009.   The finalists have been busy working on their performances and their outfits. It’s going to be a great show. Our special guest judges Simon Gallaher and Rachael Beck will be joined on the panel by Opera Diva Judy Glen and our resident judge Paul Dellit. We also have special guest performances from previous years winners Patricia Newton, Peter Vance and Glad Graveson.
This is a free event and is not ticketed. Doors open at 1.30pm. You can also have a chance of winning 2 Emerald tickets to see Liza Minnelli on 30 October at the Entertainment Centre. Pick up a flyer from the ushers and you could win!
See you then.
Senior Superstar Grand Final
Saturday 15 August, 2pm
Main Auditorium
City Hall

Here’s a clip of Senior Superstar winner from 2007 Peter Vance entertaining the crowds at the second Semi-Final at the Broncos.

Semi Final 2 Sunday 2 August   Broncos Leagues Club

Broncos Finalists

The Broncos Leagues Club played host to the second semi-final on Sunday 2 August.

300 people filled the club; many had followed the series throughout Brisbane. Today, they would discover who would go through to the final.

The judges were faced with a very tough job. Thirteen talented acts performed with six chosen to go through to the Grand Final at City Hall.

Jim Hodgson, 74 from Zillmere sung his own composition about his love for his adopted town called “The Brisbane Boast”.

Barbara Tyrrell, from Stafford Heights sung the Dusty Springfield hit “You Don’t Have to say you Love Me”.

Pam Hodgson, 62 from Samford sung the Liza Minnelli song Cabaret.

Dot Williams from Brighton calls herself a “Red Hot Grandma” and dressed the part as she played the Bumble Bee Rag.

Angelita Paloma, 60 from Paddington performed her own version of the Willie Nelson song “Always On My Mind”.

Darcy Turgeon, 58 from Deagon looked arresting as he sung the Paper Lace 70’s hit “ The Night Chicago Died”.

All were extremely excited to have made it through from 89 performers to the Grand Final.

Semi Final 1 Mt Gravatt Bowls Club Saturday 1 August

It was the best of the Southside with 11 acts performing to a capacity crowd at Mt Gravatt Bowls Club. Judges for both semi finals were Opera singer, comedienne Judy Glenn, tenor Greg Moore and producer performer Paul Dellit.

The six Grand Finalists to go through were:

Max Johnson from Carina, 73 who sung the emotionally stirring classic hit “What Kind of Fool am I?” Max is a well-loved regular to the series.

Joy Darmody from Indooroopilly, 69 was literally half man and half woman singing “The Ballad of Barry and Frida” by Victoria Wood.

George Prior, 80 from Durack looked dapper and sung Matt Monroe’s “Born Free”

Michael Burke 69 from Indooroopilly had many people reaching for the tissues with his rendition of “Danny Boy”. Michael stopped singing over 30 years ago. He decided to start singing again using Senior Superstar as his starting point.

Anita Reed from Holland Park recited a poem about what happens when you visit Nimbin called “Dancing With Hippies”. Anita had the audience in stitches with her humorous presentation.

Jianrong Zhang 54 from Carina had the audience captivated with a Chinese song called “What a Beautiful World”. This is Jianrong’s first year at Senior Superstar. The judges referred to her voice as outstanding and exquisite.

All were very excited to have made it through to the Grand Final at City Hall.

Senior Superstar Heat 6 – Moorooka Sports and Community Club

Sunday 19 July

The final heat of proved one of the most popular. Over 300 people crammed into Moorooka Sports and Community Club to see who would be the last acts chosen to go through to the semi-final at Mt Gravatt.

10 acts sung, danced and recited to the crowd. Jenny Peart 66, from forest Lake showed her flexibility in her City Cat dancer routine, Merle Edmonds (left),  from Jindalee looked elegant  and sounded wonderful singing “Dancing in the Clouds”

The judges found the decision tough resulting in a tie for the fourth spot.

Zenaida Thornton 55, from Kangaroo Point sung the Gladys Night classic “The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me”,

Anita Reed from Holland Park disguised herself as Sam Nagasaki and recited his version of “Waltzing Matilda” which had the audience in stitches.

It was third time lucky for Moorooka local Jim Skelton (below), 81. Jim performed the Frank Sinatra hit “Come Fly With Me”. The crowd including his fan club loved his performance.

Denis Cochran, 72 from Greenslopes sung “Danny Boy”, tying with Margarita Escalon from Calamvale who performed a dance from El Salvador.

All will go through to the Semi-final at the Mt Gravatt Bowls Club on Saturday 1 August.

Senior Superstar Heat 5 – Queensland Lions Football Club   Sunday 12 July

The fifth heat of Senior Superstar proved to be one of the toughest for the judges. Richlands hosted an amazing array of talent.  Variety was the theme with Norma Daley, 69 from Jindalee singing, “You’re the reason” whilst playing her ukulele, Merice Briffa performing an Egyptian Belly dance.

The man in the frock, 80 year old Dalas Gilby wiggled his way through “Big Spender” and Glenys Anderson sung her original song about losing her teeth on a date.

Over 200 people supported and encouraged the 11 acts to do their best

The decision was very hard for the judges Greg Moore, Denise Harris and Paul Dellit with four acts chosen to go through to the Semi-final at the Mt Gravatt Bowls Club on Saturday 1 August.

Michael Burke 69, from Indooroopilly performed “Serenade” from the operetta “The Student Prince”

Jianrong Zhang 54, from Carina captivated the audience singing in Chinese “See the Moon”.

George Prior, 80 from Durack looked dapper in his dinner suit and wowed the judges with his version of “Born Free”.

And then there was Joy Darmody, 58 from Indooroopilly. Joy complete with fat suit had everyone laughing to her interpretation of Olivia Newton John’s song “Physical”.

The next heat is on Sunday 19^th July at Moorooka Sports and Community Club. 11 acts will perform including a Chinese Dance Troupe, a poet, singers, guitarists, pianist and a very flexible dancer!

Senior Superstar Heat 4 – Carina Leagues Club Sunday 5 July

Once again more chairs had to be brought in to accommodate the eager supporters that arrived at Carina Leagues Club on Sunday 5 July for the 4th heat of Senior Superstar.

Over 250 people supported and encouraged the 13 acts to do their best.

A wide range of acts performed including 83 year old rock n roll dancer Herbert Shapcott and his partner Sonya Graham, Comedian John Donnison talked about growing old disgracefully, Anne Stephenson sung “The Rose” and played the harmonica and Alick Green got the crowd singing along to the Bobby Darin hit “Things”.

The four finalists chosen to go through to the Semi-final were:

Max Johnson, 73 from Carina who sung “On the Street Where You Live” from the musical My Fair Lady .

74 year old Paula Halliwell from Cleveland had a little help from 2 budgies and a guinea pig when she sung “I’ve got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts”

Janet Ray, 62 years old from Kangaroo Point travelled the world in song on piano accordion,

And Marlene Henderson, 66 from Carina tapped danced her way through to the semis to Hernados Hideaway.

The four will go through to the Semi-final at the Mt Gravatt Bowls Club on Saturday 1 August.

The next heat is on Sunday 12 July at Queensland Lions Football Club. 10 acts will perform. Singers include Laurence West, 91 from Indooroopilly, and the oldest drag act Dalas Gilby, 80 from Indooroopilly. We also welcome to the stage belly dancer Merice Briffa, 66 from Oxley.

It was standing room only at Arana Leagues Club for the third heat of Senior Superstar on Sunday 28 June.

Twelve acts performed to over 250 people eager to see and support the talented seniors. It was a heat full of variety with singers covering opera, country, fifties pop and Broadway.

As well as singers David Thomas showed that harmonicas are not confined to country by playing a medley, which moved from classical music to Dire Straits. The dying art of whistling was revived with an energetic performance from Richard Wade.

The finalists chosen to go through to the Semi-final were:

Pam Hodgson, 62 singing the classic song “I Got Rhythm”

70 year old Alan Doxey from Bardon wowed the audience with his performance of “If I were a Rich Man” from the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Angelita Paloma, 60 years old from Paddington gave a unique rendition of “Unchained Melody”

And Richard Wade from the Gap whistled and danced his way to the semi-finals with an exciting medley of tunes.

The four will go through to the Semi-final at the Broncos Leagues Club on Sunday 2 August.

The next heat is on Sunday 5 July at Carina Leagues Club.  12 acts will perform. Singers, rock and roll dancers, guitarists, accordionist, and a comedian will vie for a place in the Semi-finals.

Senior Superstar headed to Sandgate to discover what the 50 plus had to offer.

Ten acts performed to over 250 people eager to see and support the talented seniors. Acts included singers, bush poets, and a pianist.  Songs included classics, an original composition and a medley of country songs on the guitar. 

It was a sing-a-long heat with many of the audience joining in with many of the songs performed.  Brian Kelly had the whole audience singing along to his country medley.  As did Sue Coats when the audience joined in while she sung Que Sera Sera. 

There was not one but 2 bush poets, Kevin Dean and Cay Ellem proved this unique Australian art is not dead.  Dot Williams had the crowd clapping along as she played the piano.

The four finalists chosen to go through to the Semi-final were:

Darcy Turgeon from Deagon got everyone knocking to the song “Knock Three Times”.

Barbara Tyrrell from Stafford sung the classic “One Day at a Time”

Dot Williams from Brighton hit the keys as she played “The 12^th Street Rag”.

Bush Poet, Kevin Dean, Strathpine recited a poem about troublesome dog who liked to leave his mark on many a post and wall!

The four will go through to the Semi-final at the Broncos Leagues Club on Sunday 2 August.

The next heat is on Sunday 28 June at Arana Leagues Club.  12 acts will perform. Singers, harmonica players, guitarists, a pianist and a whistler will vie for a place in the Semi-finals.

The first heat of Senior Superstar got off to a cracking start.  Twelve performers impressed the 250 plus audience at the Geebung Zillmere Services Club with songs, comedy, accordion playing and poetry.  Songs featured by the talented singers included Country, Gospel, Broadway, an original composition and contemporary songs.

There was a gender bending performance from brother and sister team Elizabeth Kann and her brother Pat.  Barry Ellem recited a poem about dating on the farm called  “My Girl Gladys”.  Tom Flanagan played a medley of tunes on his 100 year old plus accordion which the whole crowd sung along to.  

The first finalists chosen to go through to the Semi-final were:

Country Singer Rose Rowland from Chermside. Rose sung the Mary Chapin Carpenter song “I Fell Lucky” . She proved she was by going through to the semi final.

Fay Cooper from Brisbane City who sung the Doris Day classic Que Sera Sera – complete with Doris Day wig.

Jim Hodgson, Zillmere, with the My Fair Lady classic “I’m Getting Married in the Morning”

And

Sylvia Delaney from Paddington dedicated her song, “ With a song in my Heart” to a dearly departed friend of 50 years. 

It was a case of celebration for these top four who we will see at the Broncos Leagues Club on Sunday 2 August.

We also welcomed to the stage Alyssa from Traveltrain, our major prize sponsor to chat about the fantastic range of train travel they offer. Karen from the Public Trustee, one of our major sponsors took us through the services that they provide. Its much more than you think!

We are happy to have both on board this year. They will be at each heat with special show bags for all who attend. Speaking of show bags – the ever popular Seniors Cards bags were back and Deano our bag boy just survived the rush!