Opportunity knocks! Sparkle Singing Challenge Detroit auditions

Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston.

If I see a door comin' my way, I'm knockin' it down. And if I can't knock down the door, I'm sliding through the window - Rosie Perez, American actor.

A window will be open for somebody Saturday, July 14 at Oakland Mall.

As part of the "Sparkle Singing Challenge" sponsored by Sony Pictures and MySpace one Detroit singer will receive $500 in cash and a chance to compete for the national grand prize: A trip to New York City, an appearance on BET's hit show 106 & Park and studio time to professionally record a song with the Punch Monkey's producer and writing team.

Amateur singers between the ages of 13-40 will be asked to sing their version of one of two songs as part of a nationwide contest promoting "Sparkle." The new film starring Jordin Sparks, Whitney Houston, Derek Luke, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, Tika Sumpter, Omari Hardwich and CeeLo Green opens in theaters Aug. 17.

WHO: Amateur singers 13-40 years old.

WHAT: Seize the moment. Sing a 60 second a cappella clip from 'Celebrate' or 'Something He Can Feel."

WHEN: Saturday, July 14 beginning at 2 p.m.; registration at 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Oakland Mall, 412 W. 14 Mile Road, Troy, MI 48083

To preregister and reserve your singing spot ahead of time, e-mail  sparklecontestdetroit@gmail.com
For inspiration and complete rules and information, visit Sparkle movie site or Myspace/Sparkle

DAYTRIPPING

What else is happening in the Detroit area? Check out our listing of family-friendly events going on around town:

“The Wizard of Oz”

The Historic Redford Theatre will present “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland, July 13 at 8 p.m. and July 14 at 2 and 8 p.m. Parking is free and admission of $4 includes a special show featuring the theatre’s 1928 pipe organ before the show. Tickets: available online at www.redfordtheatre.com or at the Redford Theatre box office, at 17360 Lahser Road, Detroit, MI 48219. Call 313-537-2560. 

Piggy race

Utica Riverwalk Rubber Piggy Race, 4:30 p.m. July 7 at Riverwalk Park off Auburn Road. Tickets $5 each or six for $20 available at Utica City Hall, Utica Police Department, Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce office. Call 586-731-5400 ext. 10, 11 or 13.

Antiques market

Utica Antiques Market, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. July 7-8 at 11541 21 Mile Road; $5 admission, free parking. For details, 586-254-3495 or www.uticaantiques.com.

Garden Club

Mount Clemens Garden Club meeting about herbal teas, noon July 9, at Mount Clemens Public Library Community Room, 150 Cass Ave. Non-member admission $5. To RSVP, call 586-226-0124.

Park*it

Park*it family fun nights get under way in Macomb County on July 11 at Veterans Memorial Park, Jefferson and Masonic, St. Clair Shores. Activities start at 6 p.m., music 7:30, and movie at 9. For other Park*it locations, visit www.parkit4fun.com.

Music tribute

Moe’s Rock and Blues Fest, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 8, at Bruce VFW Post 1146 at 28404 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores. Event features more than 40 musicians paying tribute to songwriter/performer Brian “Moe” Motyka who died in October. Also included are Polish and barbecue food, dunk tank, gift baskets; donation at the door to benefit Moe Motyka Memorial Fund.

Sawdust Festival

Wolcott Mill Metropark Historic Center hosts “Sawdust Festival,” 1-5 p.m. July 15, 63100 Kunstman Road, Ray Township. Event includes log cutting, candle dipping, pioneer stories; admission $4 per person, free ages 5 and younger, craft tickets $1 each. Call 586-749-5997 or visit www.metroparks.com.

Civil War

Civil War Days at Historic Fort Wayne-Detroit, 6325 W. Jefferson at Livernois, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 8, admission $3 per person, parking $5. Event includes re-enactments, vintage baseball game, Union and Confederate campsites, infantry and artillery demonstrations. For details, www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com.

Youth Camps

Assumption Cultural Center in St. Clair Shores hosts summer youth camp for ages 7-12, in conjunction with Detroit Institute of Arts, 9 a.m.-noon July 23-Aug. 23; full-day child care available 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Camp programs include art projects and discussions, field trip to the DIA, volleyball and basketball clinics. For fee and registration information, 586-772-4477 or www.assumptionnursery.org.

Summer Zoomance

After-hours 21 and older Summer Zoomance, 6-9 p.m. July 12 and Aug. 23, at the Detroit Zoo, 10 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, includes twilight strolls among animal habitats, rides ($5 each), carousel ($2). Zoomance admission $10 advance, $12 at the gate, parking $5 for non-zoo members, free for members. For reservations, www.detroitzoo.org.

Wet and Wild

Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm hosts Wed and Wile Wednesdays, July 11-Aug. 1, with musical entertainment noon-1 p.m., children’s fun (fire truck sprays, creek wading, slip and slide) 1-2 p.m. Free for museum members, $3 non-members. Also, Children’s Music Festival 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays at the museum, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, east of Rochester Road off Tienken Road. For details, 248-656-4663 or www.rochesterhills.org.

Garden Walk

Troy Garden Club 38th Garden walk includes six private gardens, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. rain or shine, July 11. Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of, call 248-540-4249. Garden Walk activities at Troy Historic Village include arts and crafts boutique, plant sale, student art exhibit, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., 60 W. Wattles, west of Livernois.

Book sale

Right to Life-LIFESPAN used book sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 12-15 at St. Mary of Royal oak Fellowship Hall, 730 S. Lafayette. More than 50 tables of books included.

Summer sounds

The Mall at Partridge Creek and Motor City Co-op Credit Union present free daily outdoor concerts (weather permitting) at Center Court through Labor Day (Sept. 3) at the Clinton Township mall on Hall Road between Romeo Plank and Garfield roads. Performances are 5:30-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays and holidays. For details, visit www.shoppartridgecreek.com.

Free music series “Sound of Music … Past,” 7 p.m. July 25 (Sentimental Journey Band) and Aug. 22 (Jean Bastian’s Double Brass Quartet), at Beebe Street Park, Richmond, presented by Senior Helpers of Richmond. Call 586-430-1015.

Concerts/dancing at Lake St. Clair Metropark take place 6:30-10 p.m. Sundays throughout August; music free with Metropark vehicle annual entry permit, $25 season, $15 ages 62 and older, or $5 daily. Visit www.metroparks.com or call 586-463-4581.

Grosse Pointe Village Association’s Music on The Plaza free outdoor jazz concert series presented by St. John Hospital & Medical Center, 7 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 2, on Village Festival Plaza at Kercheval and St. Clair in downtown Grosse Pointe. Call 313-886-7474 or www.thevillagegp.com.

Concerts at Stony Creek Metropark in Washington Township feature Air Margaritaville, July 20; Justine Blazer, Aug. 3; Dr. Pocket, Aug. 10. Music begins 7:30 p.m. at Eastwood Beach. Free, but Metropark vehicle entry permit required. Call 586-781-4242 or www.metroparks.com.

Lexington Arts Council Music in the Park series, opening acts 6 p.m., main show 7:30 p.m. July 13, 20, 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17, at Patrick Tierney Memorial Park, Lexington. Free. Visit www.lexarts.com.

Wild Summer Nights concert series at Detroit Zoo, 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 29, in Main Picnic Grove; free with zoo admission. Guests can bring own picnics or purchase refreshments at concessions.

Summer Music Festival at Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore Road, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays July 11-Aug. 8; grounds open 6 p.m. Admission $8 per person; food available for purchase or guests can bring their own picnic. For details, 313-881-7511 ro www.WarMemorial.org.

On stage

“Willy Wonka The Musical” presented by Project DayDream, 7p.m., July 19, 20, at Seaholm High School in Birmingham. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Visit www.projectdream.org.Avon Players Community Theatre auditions for “Bye Bye Birdie,” 7 p.m. July 9-10 at the theater, 1185 Washington Road, Rochester. Registration at 6:30 p.m.. Performance dates Sept. 7-9, 14-16 and 21-22. For information, www.avonplayers.org.

“The Ugly Duckling” plays 10:30 a.m. July 7 at the Hilberry Theatre, at Cass and Hancock on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit. For tickets, $5 children, $8 adults, call 313-577-2972 or www.hilberry.com.

“Robocop: The Musical” 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, through Aug. 3, at Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. Tickets $15. Visit www.gocomedy.net.

Rosedale Community Players auditions for the comedy “The Current,” 7 p.m. July 10, with callbacks July 11, at Peace Lutheran Church, 17029 W. 13 Mile Road, Southfield. Show dates Oct. 19-21, 26-28, and Nov. 2-3, 9-10. For details, www.rosedalecommunityplayers.com or 248-554-0782.

Benefit on the Bay

Capuchin Soup Kitchen fundraiser 19th Benefit on the Bay, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24, at Mac&Ray’s in Harrison Township. Tickets, $60, include dinner, dancing, beer, wine, three bands, auctions and drawings. To order: 313-579-2100 ext. 153 or 170, or www.BenefitOnTheBay.org.

Leaps & Bounds

Early childhood education training programs for caregivers and parents, 9:15-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Early Childhood Center, 24580 Cunningham, Center Line, and 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursdays at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 8129 Packard, Warren, sponsored by non-profit Leaps & Bounds Family Services. For complete schedule, 313-402-0802 or 586-675-0451.

Meadow Brook

Summer tours at Meadow Brook Hall on the Oakland University Campus in Rochester are under way at 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. A new architecture tour includes interior and exterior highlights of the design and construction process, 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; Behind-The-Scenes tours  that include the staff wing are noon and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; each tour admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors, free ages 12 and younger. Twilight Tuesdays are 6-9 p.m. June 12, July 13 and Aug. 28, $10 adults, free ages 12 and younger. Call 248-364-6200 or go to www.meadowbrookhall.org.

Fishing clubs

Vanguard Trout Unlimited for fishing enthusiasts meets 7:30 p.m. second Thursday monthly at Rochester’s Dinosaur Hill. Also, Fishing Buddies Fishing Club gathers 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays at Rochester Hills OPC, 650 Leticia Drive. Call 248-375-1931. 

Features editor Debbie Komar contributed to this listing.