INLAND IDOL ANNOUNCES CELEBRITY JUDGES

CORONA, Calif. -- Olympic Silver medal gymnast and Tony-nominated actress Cathy Rigby will join “Desperate Housewives” creator and producer Marc Cherry and others as celebrity judges for the Aug. 9 concert finale of Inland Idol – a vocal contest open to Inland Empire children from 7 to 18 years old.

The concert, featuring finalists from qualifying auditions in July, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at Stage One Auditorium at Crossroads Church, 2331 Kellogg Ave., Corona. Tickets will be available starting July 9 online at www.InlandIdol.com ($12 in advance) or $15 at the door.

Registration is now open for one of three qualifying audition venues to be held in July at locations in Temecula, San Bernardino and Corona. Signups began June 12 and will continue only until 600 people in each of three age divisions (7-10, 11-14, and 15-18) have applied. Applicants must pay $25 to register at www.InlandIdol.com, and will be assigned to audition at one of three venues:

• The Promenade: Saturday, July 12
40820 Winchester Road, Temecula
• Inland Center Mall: Saturday, July 19
500 Inland Center Drive, San Bernardino
• The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos: Saturday, July 26
2780 Cabot Drive, Corona

Selected winners from those auditions will compete in a concert finale at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 9 at Crossroads Church, 2331 Kellogg Ave., in Corona. Other judges include Corkey Lee, Vice President of Video Production at Paramount Studios (“Dr. Phil,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “The Insider”); and Reggie Burrell, a recording artist and producer who has performed with Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight.

Inland Idol is being coordinated by WBZB Entertainment, a youth entertainment company that promotes and stages performances and training opportunities for young people. Proceeds from the event will benefit WBZB’s Arts Reach Initiatives, designed to aid existing arts organizations, schools programs and the community at large through exposure to and involvement in the performing arts. For information visit www.wbzb.net

Co-sponsors of Inland Idol include The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos and SE Corporation, the master developer of the award-winning Dos Lagos community in Corona. The competition will be judged by celebrities from television, music and Broadway industries. Dynamic guest performers will take the stage in the final competition Aug. 9 in Corona. One winner from each age division will be selected and awarded great prizes including:
• A two-song, professional recording and production deal with Dinky Studios in Corona
• Professional photography session for headshots from Legacy Portraiture and video of Corona
• Musical equipment or instruments from Guitar Center in Rancho Cucamonga
• Performance Showcase Opportunities
• Assorted other prizes
For more information, including available sponsorship opportunities, visit www.inlandidol.com or e-mail info@wbzb.net