Bremerton’s annual holiday talent competition, Sounds of the Season, sold nearly 400 tickets on day one as dancers, singers, and even a belly dancer signed up to try their luck on the stage.

The show is in its 12th year and is growing in popularity with performers as well as patrons, according to Brian Johnson, general manager for the Admiral Theater.

“It is such a good learning experience for any artist. The whole production is just like one that we would give a professional performer,” said Ruth Enderle, the theater’s executive director.

Local talent lucky enough to be selected during the two days of competition held Nov. 29 and 30 have the chance to perform on stage to a crowd of 800 with a professional lighting and sound crew.

“Those that make it are also coached on dress and style. So there’s a production team helping them in the background before they take the stage again, and by the time they return they are performing like pros,” said Enderle.

The six judge panel for auditions is made up of Admiral Theatre board members, the executive director, and season ticket holders. The judges for opening night, however, is being kept under wraps until closer to the date. According to Johnson, it will include three local celebrity judges and perhaps a surprise judge.

As the audition judges sat through the roster of talents, some good, some bad, they agreed that regardless of the act, the performer has got to have the right stage presence.

“It’s important that the artist is able to connect with the audience. Everyone is nervous and we accommodate for that when we judge at auditions, but they have to show that they are able to keep everyone’s attention,” said Enderle.

But performing for a panel can sometimes be more nerve-wracking than facing a packed house. Sakura Burkhart, a young ballerina from Northwest School of Dance, danced a solo on stage while Tessa Banalas, a fellow dancer followed her motions nervously from the wings.

“We’ve been practicing since the summer,” said Banalas.

“We know each other’s dance moves,” said Burkhart.

Both girls said that they are eager to hear the results of the auditions which will come out sometime next week.

“This year, the auditions are starting so strong. We’re very excited by it,” said Tami Browning, marketing director for Admiral Theatre.

One number that had judges humming along was a vocal performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” by Bremerton local Nicole Newby.

The young marine wife dedicated the song to her husband, Shane, who is deployed in Afghanistan. Newby said that he has been gone since the summer and their communication is extremely limited.

“I don’t get to talk to him often, but I wanted to do something that would make him feel special if he was here and show how I feel,” said Newby.

Newby and her friend, who also has a husband deployed over the holidays with the USS Stennis, are supporting each other through the season.

Her heartwarming rendition of the Christmas classic had judges swaying in their seats.

At the end of two days of auditions, the panel will choose 16 to 18 artists to move on to the big show. Johnson said that sometimes it’s those last few that are the hardest to pick up.

“It’s really hard to know where the cut off line is when you get to about 18 talents. Some years we have had so many good ones, we had to push two or three in over the cap, but we generally would not go over 20 in the interest of time,” said Johnson.

The grand prize for the talent competition is $500.