A packed house watched a Full Sail University student perform “music for the soul” to win the opening Showtime in Sanford event for Season 5 on Thursday at the Sanford Woman’s Club.
Standing room only audiences usually occur for the finale of each season of Showtime, but last Thursday’s opener had it all going on, which impressed winner Jacob Green, who hails from the Washington, D.C., area.
“I really enjoyed this,” Green told the Herald, describing the Showtime event. “I love the vibes.”
Green called what he does “music for the soul,” an ethereal type of rap in a Philadelphia Eagles jersey. His stage presence, but especially his connection with the audience at the end of his performance, which earned him a 111 on the decibel meter.
Check out Green on social media at Jacob.Green.Music. He said he will graduate from Full Sail soon, and he is dropping a new EP of music this week.
The two judges—Brian Redd of Redd Litt Productions and Royce Reed, former Orlando Magic Dancer and TV star—voted Green the winner. He received the $500 cash prize.
Finishing in second place were Sanford’s own The Showout Girls dance team. They won the very first competition in Season 1. And placing third was young rapper MLB Lil Grind, who performed with three other young boys wearing GOAT t-shirts.
The second- and third-place performers qualify for the season ending show in December when the prize is $1,000 cash.
Reed’s young dance team named Fantashique opened the night with a mesmerizing performance, although they were not part of the 10 artists competing.
The Fine Line house band entertained from a side stage on the floor. They performed during breaks and had people dancing to the music.
No one was more pleased on the night than Lawrence Gordon, aka Calico Tha Surrealist. Calico and his team from Surrealist Entertainment, which produces the shows, have worked hard to get Showtime to the level it has achieved.
“It’s a beautiful thing when you work so hard to accomplish something and your community comes together to help you do it,” Calico wrote on social media the next day.
He thanked his sponsors at the show: the Sanford Herald, Yellow Door Realty, the Lake Mary Bilingual Academy, Filomena’s Pizzeria and Ristorante, Ja’Vion Mcvadian, Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes, and TD Barr Construction, which paid out the $500 top prize. He also thanked Kitty Feathers and Pasha Baker.
The Surrealist Team kept the rules at the top of people’s minds, and include host Jay Love, who served up the comedy while coordinating the sound for the show. Lizza Gordon, Christopher Gray, Darvis Suber, and Aunti Ahillery were at the top of their game as usual.
Don’t miss the next qualifying show on June 19, followed by another qualifying show on Sept. 18, and the finale for $1,000 on Dec. 18.
