Pumpkin Festival auditioning for talent show Sept. 15

The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival will showcase some homegrown artistic talent this year with a new attraction called The Golden Gourds.

A coastside youth talent showcase produced by local actor/director Michael Lederman, the event will be held on the Family Stage, located in the Bank of America parking lot, during both days of the festival, October 13-14, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

"The coastside is filled with tremendously talented kids who have not had the opportunity to perform at a major showcase event like the Pumpkin Festival," says Lederman, director of the Coastal Theatre Conservatory, which has an after-school program for local youth. "The Golden Gourds will give them a forum to do what they love most—getting on stage and performing for a big crowd."

The Golden Gourds will have a real "awards show atmosphere", complete with the presentation of gold-painted mini pumpkins to the performers. There will be 12 to 15 acts each day, with participants ranging from kindergarteners to young adults in their early 20s.

"We’re hoping to attract a wide variety of talent, from singers, bands and dancers, to improvisational comedians and maybe even poets," says Lederman.

Auditions for The Golden Gourds will be held on Saturday, September 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Coastal Theatre Conservatory, located at 1167 Main Street, Half Moon Bay.

The public is invited to view the auditions. For more information, call 650/726-0267.