COOS BAY - With a new venue and a wildly different schedule, Bay Area Teen Idol plans several changes for its eighth season.
The biggest change: The competition is no longer a weekly event. Biweekly shows will begin Friday, July 15, at the North Bend Community Center.
The reason for the change is that contest director Stephanie Kilmer is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and receives treatment every other week. The treatments leave her unable to put on a show those weeks.
"I had to be realistic about my health issue and what I felt I could feasibly do," Kilmer said.
"I could not in my heart not do this program. If there was any time to make any changes, it was this year."
In the past, there have been eight consecutive weeks of competition in July and August with a break before the mid-September final.
This year, there are only six performances including the final - two in July, two in August and two in September.
For the past four years, the contest called the Egyptian Theatre home. But the theater closed in March due to structural problems.
Also, except for the two shows linked to festivals - the Blackberry Arts Festival and the final at the Bay Area Fun Festival - there's always been a consistent day and time.
Not this year.
The new schedule alternates three indoor shows with three outdoor shows, bringing back a performance at the Coos County Fair. Of the three indoor shows, each is at a different time and on a different day of the week (see box). These variations are due to conflicts at the new venue, the North Bend Community Center.
Kilmer isn't the only one looking forward to a lighter schedule. She expects the contestants to enjoy it, particularly in the latter half of the competition when they must learn and perform more than one song per show.
"It's a grueling schedule for a lot of young people," she said of the old format.
Another change is a new emcee: Tim Novotny will replace Mike Chavez, who will be running sound after the departure of Darryl Elkins.
Amid all the changes organizers faced, along came a development they didn't foresee: the biggest turnout ever at auditions. Two years ago, when auditions drew about 35 local teens, the turnout was described as the most since 2003's inaugural event, which drew more than 40. Kilmer wouldn't give a number for this year but called it the most "by far."
However, because of the limitations of the schedule and Kilmer's health, organizers chose to take a slightly smaller-than-usual group of 14 contestants. Four others will gain experience on stage by performing on group songs as non-competing chorus members.
"They get the best of both worlds," Kilmer said. "They get to perform but don't have to compete."
It's an older group. Among the contestants are three 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old and the chorus includes two more 17-year-olds.
Open to Coos County residents between 13 and 18, the contest has traditionally drawn most interest from 13- and 14-year-olds, with an average age of 14 each of the past three years, compared to 15 for this year.
The change isn't due to past contestants aging up; most of the older ones are new to the competition.
Tabitha Price, 17, a Marshfield High School senior, said she's been thinking about trying out for Teen Idol the past two years but didn't go for it until now.
Nathan Kahler, 17, a North Bend High School graduate, didn't begin singing until last summer's season of Little Ole Opry, so he hadn't considered Teen Idol before this year.
At rehearsal Monday, they and other contestants worked on group songs. While trying to sort out solos for various lines, several began talking at once.
"I can't multi-task and multi-listen like I used to," Kilmer told them. "Help me out here."
The teens have been cautious about wearing Kilmer down and exacerbating her health, she said.
"They're very respectful of that. I haven't come out and said it, but they know."
Chip Dombrowski can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 243, or at cdombrowski@theworldlink.com.