The letters OGT for Oaklawn's Got Talent and Oaklawn's oakleaf logomark in green

Got Talent?!

Apply Today!
Auditions 11/1/26
Show 5/21/27

Do You Have Talent? Show Us!

Oaklawn’s Got Talent is a one-of-a-kind fundraiser that supports Oaklawn’s mission to provide mental health and addiction services while showcasing amazing talent from St. Joseph and Elkhart counties. We’re looking for performers of all kinds – singers, musicians, dancers, comedians, magicians, variety acts and more. If you have a talent to share, now is your chance to take the stage, show off and compete for a $5,000 grand prize!

Oaklawn’s Got Talent is open to performers of all ages and skill levels. You can audition as an individual or a group, but you or at least one member of your group must be a resident of St. Joseph County or Elkhart County. Acts must be appropriate for a family-friendly audience. See full contest rules below.

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Contest Rules

  • Applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday, October 16, 2026.
  • Each application must include a video of the act. The video does not need to be professionally produced; a cell phone recording is fine. Applications without a video will not be considered.
  • Applicants must live in Elkhart County or St. Joseph County, Indiana. Groups are eligible as long as at least one member lives in either county.
  • The contest is open to performers of all ages and skill levels. Participants under age 18 must have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
  • Performers who auditioned in previous years but were not selected as finalists are welcome to apply again.
  • Employees of Oaklawn and members of their immediate household are not eligible to compete.
  • A panel of Oaklawn Foundation representatives will review all applications and invite selected performers to participate in a live audition.
  • Applicants selected for a live audition will receive their assigned audition time in advance. Audition times will be assigned by Oaklawn.
  • Live auditions will be held on the stage at the Lerner Theater in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.
  • A sound system will be available to play accompaniment tracks (such as backing tracks for singers or music for dancers). Musical acts should plan to audition “unplugged.” Microphones will be available for vocalists, but not full band amplification. If a band is selected as a finalist, Oaklawn will work with the group to accommodate reasonable technical needs for the final performance.
  • Audition performances may not exceed five (5) minutes. Oaklawn reserves the right to end any performance that exceeds the time limit.
  • Performances must be appropriate for a family audience and may not contain profanity, sexually explicit material, hate speech, dangerous acts, or other content deemed inappropriate by Oaklawn.
  • For safety reasons, Oaklawn may prohibit performances involving fire, weapons, live animals, hazardous materials, excessive risk or other elements it determines are unsafe or impractical.
  • Oaklawn reserves the right to determine the eligibility of all acts and to decline any application or performance it determines is not appropriate for the event.

  • All participants (and a parent or legal guardian for participants under age 18) must sign Oaklawn’s participant release and indemnification agreement before auditioning.
  • By participating, contestants grant Oaklawn permission to photograph, record, livestream, and otherwise capture their name, image, voice, likeness, and performance for promotional, educational, and fundraising purposes without additional compensation.

  • Live auditions will be held on Sunday, November 1 at the Lerner Theatre in Elkhart. Auditions are closed to the public.
  • A panel of judges will select finalists to perform at Oaklawn’s Got Talent.
  • Oaklawn’s Got Talent will be held on Friday, May 21, 2027, at the Lerner Theatre. The event will be open to the public through ticket sales and invitations to Oaklawn supporters.
  • If a selected finalist is unable to participate, Oaklawn reserves the right to select an alternate finalist.
  • Oaklawn reserves the right to modify, postpone, or cancel auditions or the event if circumstances make it necessary.

  • The act with the most paid votes will be awarded a $5,000 Grand Prize.
  • All other finalists will receive a $1,500 Finalist Prize.
  • Prize payments are subject to all applicable federal, state, and local tax laws.
  • Before receiving any prize payment, recipients must complete and return a valid IRS Form W-9 (or other required tax documentation).
  • Oaklawn may issue an IRS Form 1099-NEC or other required tax form, as applicable. Participants are solely responsible for any taxes associated with prize payments.
  • Prizes are non-transferable and may not be substituted except at Oaklawn’s discretion.

  • The winner of Oaklawn’s Got Talent will be determined by the total number of paid votes received.
  • Votes are charitable donations supporting the Oaklawn Foundation and its mission. Each paid vote counts equally toward determining the winner.
  • Public voting will open in early 2027 and remain open until the announced voting deadline during the live event on May 21, 2027.
  • All voting will be conducted through Oaklawn’s official voting platform. Oaklawn’s determination of vote totals is final.

If selected as a finalist, participants agree to:

  • Be available for required rehearsals and performances at the Lerner Theatre on Thursday, May 20, 2027, and Friday, May 21, 2027.
  • Participate in reasonable promotional activities for Oaklawn’s Got Talent, including photography, videography, interviews, social media, television, radio, print, and other marketing efforts.
  • Help promote the fundraising campaign by encouraging friends, family, and supporters to vote.

  • Participants are responsible for obtaining any permissions or rights needed for music, recordings, or other copyrighted material used in their performance.
  • Participants are expected to conduct themselves respectfully and professionally throughout the competition. Oaklawn reserves the right to remove any participant whose conduct is disruptive, unsafe, or inconsistent with the spirit of the event.
  • Oaklawn reserves the right to interpret, modify, or update these rules as necessary. Participants will be notified of any material changes.
  • All decisions made by Oaklawn regarding eligibility, auditions, finalists, performances, voting, and all other aspects of the competition are final.

Contact

For questions about the event or media inquiries please contact Alicia Sisk.