2012 Reviews
REEL CHICAGO "Lily’s ‘Evening of F.A.M.E’ benefits aspiring actors" By Ruth L Ratny Mar 06, 2012
Chicago talent will get a welcome break in advancing their careers mainly through the monetary assistance as well as Mentorship through the help of the founder Lily Liu, who is also the president of Lily’s Talent Agency in the West Loop.
After two years in the works, Liu presents the first “Evening of F.A.M.E.” – the non-profit Foundation of Artist Mentored in Entertainment –- Thursday, March 8 at Rockit Bar & Grill, from 6 to 9 p.m.
“Over the years Lily’s been in business, she has seen so many talented artists who did not have the funds to hone their skills with acting classes, or the money for career tools such as comp cards and head shots,” says Lily’s spokesperson Sarah Sapien.
Then in 2009, “She came up with the idea for F.A.M.E. However, she waited until her 501(c)3 was in place and now this year her idea is completed and she is ready to launch the first annual event. Liu says "the goal of the evening goal is to host at least 250 attendees and raise $10,000 to support F.A.M.E., Metropolis School of the Performing Arts, and provide Monetary awards for the final winners of the talent competition.
Talent competition an Evening highlight
Guests will be treated to performances by The Limelight Singer’s young adult show choir and 13-year singer, Steffan Angus. They are both students at the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts who will be the highlight of the entertainment during the intermission period while the four finalists compete for the monetary awards.
They were selected first on the basis of the talent displayed in their video submissions and subsequent auditions down to the 12 semi-finalists and then to the final lucky four.
All of the finalists, two female vocalists, a female classical dancer and a four-piece band who will perform receive monetary awards, and the grand prize winner will receive double the monetary prized check made to the training school of his/her choice.
The winner will be selected by judges familiar with contemporary music and talent, Billy Corgan, lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins: Radio personality Julianontheradio from “The B96 Morning Show;” Brotha Fred from “Brotha’ Fred’s Neighborhood Mornings” on KissFM; Next Level Music recording artist Taylor Mallory and Arabel Alva Rosales, Latino Fashion Week co-principal/founder.
The primary sponsor for F.A.M.E. is Lily's Talent Agency, a full service talent Agency representing children and adult models, actors, voice overs, dancers and agents.
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CHICAGO MAGAZINE "En Chicago"
Real F.A.M.E at Rockit Chicago Posted on March 11, 2012 Lily Liu, President of Lily’s Talent Agency, held the 1st annual,
An Evening of F.A.M.E (Foundation of Artists Mentored in Entertainment) event to benefit the Metropolitan Performing Arts Centre, in Arlington Heights.
The event was held at Chicago hot spot, Rockit Ranch Bar and Grill. Gracious host and premium sponsor Billy Dec, welcomed the guests and opened up Rockit’s very appropriate stage to the fame finalists hopefuls that performed that evening.
The judges task to choose only one of the 4 was not an easy one. From solo singers, a beautiful dancer and full on rock band performance, I’m just grateful that the final decision was not mine. All the performers deserve to be recognized for a job well done and the crowd showed their support to all by resounding applause and enthusiasm for each of them.
Special guest judges included one of my favorite’s, Smashing Pumpkins front-man, Billy Corgan; Julian on the Radio from B96 Morning Show; Brotha’ Fred from Brotha’ Fred’s Neighborhood, Mornings on 103.5 KissFM; Taylor Mallory, Level Next Music recording artist; and Arabel Alva Rosales,co-principal and founder of Latino Fashion Week.
While all the F.A.M.E. finalists were extraordinary, only one would be chosen as this year’s recipient of the award of a scholarship. That honor went to Ashleigh Ashton, 16 year old singer who performed a solo song. Finalists included;
Kelly Uchima, singer- 18 yrs; Victoria Massey-Lorick, dancer- 22 yrs; and the band, Fly Phoenix.
Contributors of the event included: Act One Studios, Goodman Theater, Acting Studio Chicago, Broadway in Chicago, Lively Arts Academy, Lincolnshire Marriott Theatre, ComedySportz Theatre,Mercury Theatre, The Rock House, Jaunice Salgado, The Second City Training Center, Drury Lane Theatre- Oakbrook, Starrlight Photography, Chicago Game and Gourmet, Victor Miller, Visionary Women at Work Productions, Hustle Fitness, Niki Laskaris DDS, Sunda, Metropolis, MAGO Grill & Cantina were among the many contributors for the event.
Chicago talent will get a welcome break in advancing their careers mainly through the monetary assistance as well as Mentorship through the help of the founder Lily Liu, who is also the president of Lily’s Talent Agency in the West Loop.
After two years in the works, Liu presents the first “Evening of F.A.M.E.” – the non-profit Foundation of Artist Mentored in Entertainment –- Thursday, March 8 at Rockit Bar & Grill, from 6 to 9 p.m.
“Over the years Lily’s been in business, she has seen so many talented artists who did not have the funds to hone their skills with acting classes, or the money for career tools such as comp cards and head shots,” says Lily’s spokesperson Sarah Sapien.
Then in 2009, “She came up with the idea for F.A.M.E. However, she waited until her 501(c)3 was in place and now this year her idea is completed and she is ready to launch the first annual event. Liu says "the goal of the evening goal is to host at least 250 attendees and raise $10,000 to support F.A.M.E., Metropolis School of the Performing Arts, and provide Monetary awards for the final winners of the talent competition.
Talent competition an Evening highlight
Guests will be treated to performances by The Limelight Singer’s young adult show choir and 13-year singer, Steffan Angus. They are both students at the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts who will be the highlight of the entertainment during the intermission period while the four finalists compete for the monetary awards.
They were selected first on the basis of the talent displayed in their video submissions and subsequent auditions down to the 12 semi-finalists and then to the final lucky four.
All of the finalists, two female vocalists, a female classical dancer and a four-piece band who will perform receive monetary awards, and the grand prize winner will receive double the monetary prized check made to the training school of his/her choice.
The winner will be selected by judges familiar with contemporary music and talent, Billy Corgan, lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins: Radio personality Julianontheradio from “The B96 Morning Show;” Brotha Fred from “Brotha’ Fred’s Neighborhood Mornings” on KissFM; Next Level Music recording artist Taylor Mallory and Arabel Alva Rosales, Latino Fashion Week co-principal/founder.
The primary sponsor for F.A.M.E. is Lily's Talent Agency, a full service talent Agency representing children and adult models, actors, voice overs, dancers and agents.
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CHICAGO MAGAZINE "En Chicago"
Real F.A.M.E at Rockit Chicago Posted on March 11, 2012 Lily Liu, President of Lily’s Talent Agency, held the 1st annual,
An Evening of F.A.M.E (Foundation of Artists Mentored in Entertainment) event to benefit the Metropolitan Performing Arts Centre, in Arlington Heights.
The event was held at Chicago hot spot, Rockit Ranch Bar and Grill. Gracious host and premium sponsor Billy Dec, welcomed the guests and opened up Rockit’s very appropriate stage to the fame finalists hopefuls that performed that evening.
The judges task to choose only one of the 4 was not an easy one. From solo singers, a beautiful dancer and full on rock band performance, I’m just grateful that the final decision was not mine. All the performers deserve to be recognized for a job well done and the crowd showed their support to all by resounding applause and enthusiasm for each of them.
Special guest judges included one of my favorite’s, Smashing Pumpkins front-man, Billy Corgan; Julian on the Radio from B96 Morning Show; Brotha’ Fred from Brotha’ Fred’s Neighborhood, Mornings on 103.5 KissFM; Taylor Mallory, Level Next Music recording artist; and Arabel Alva Rosales,co-principal and founder of Latino Fashion Week.
While all the F.A.M.E. finalists were extraordinary, only one would be chosen as this year’s recipient of the award of a scholarship. That honor went to Ashleigh Ashton, 16 year old singer who performed a solo song. Finalists included;
Kelly Uchima, singer- 18 yrs; Victoria Massey-Lorick, dancer- 22 yrs; and the band, Fly Phoenix.
Contributors of the event included: Act One Studios, Goodman Theater, Acting Studio Chicago, Broadway in Chicago, Lively Arts Academy, Lincolnshire Marriott Theatre, ComedySportz Theatre,Mercury Theatre, The Rock House, Jaunice Salgado, The Second City Training Center, Drury Lane Theatre- Oakbrook, Starrlight Photography, Chicago Game and Gourmet, Victor Miller, Visionary Women at Work Productions, Hustle Fitness, Niki Laskaris DDS, Sunda, Metropolis, MAGO Grill & Cantina were among the many contributors for the event.