You could be a singer, dancer, ventriloquist, juggler, musician, comedian, or yo-yo aficionado. if you have the talent, you could be $2,500 richer come May 4.

This large sum of cash is the grand prize destined for the pockets of the 2013 Langley Has Talent winner.

The runner-up takes home $1,500, with the third place finalist netting a cool $1,000.

LHT is marking its third year of showcasing top local amateur entertainers of all ages and backgrounds, and is registering contestants online.

To audition, download a registration form at langleyhastalent.ca.

Once downloaded, print the form, fill it out and scan it, and email it to info@ langleyhastalent.com.

The registration deadline has been extended to Feb. 15.

Auditions are being held Feb. 16, 17, 23, and 24.

The semifinals are slated for Saturday, April 20, with the finals taking place two weeks later, on Saturday, May 4.

Like the previous two years, the semifinals and finals will take place inside Christian Life Assembly.

Once the semifinalists are determined, they will be put through their paces in order to put on the best show possible April 20. In the nearly two-month stretch between the final round of auditions and the semi-finals, the LHT committee shifts into overdrive.

"We start getting our performers into performance mode; we start getting tickets out; we start promoting the show as a night out for our audience," LHT committee chair Peter Luongo explained. Each of the semi-finalists is given a workshop and feedback on what they can do to be more effective on stage. They are also given a full rehearsal before competing in the semifinal round.

"That whole process is getting ready to put on a first-class show at Christian Life Assembly," said Luongo, who knows talent when he sees it.

The Gordon Greenwood Elementary principal has, for the past 32 years, been the director of the internationally acclaimed Langley Ukulele Ensemble.

He has led the LHT committee throughout the contest's three-year existence and realizes 2012 will be a tough act to follow.

"Each year it has gotten better," Luongo said. "We started not knowing what we would have and we were really impressed with our first year's lineup. The second year, we wondered if we were going to match it and we actually had higher quality, especially at the upper end."

Luongo said the proverbial dangling carrot - prize money, and packages - helps to draw high calibre talent.

Performers must pay to audition. The registration fee is $25 for a soloist, $50 for a duo, and $75 for a group of three or more. It's money well spent, in Luongo's opinion.

"They [the contestants] are getting feedback right away from some pretty knowledgeable people," Luongo said. "We've got a talent agent sitting on that audition board, I sit on that audition board, we've got a performer sitting on the audition board. so we're literally in a position where we're giving feedback.

Even if you aren't one of the finalists, you're getting advice on what you can do to better yourself."

Funds raised from LHT go towards creating a legacy fund with the hope f it being used for a dedicated arts theatre in Langley.

Luongo said that while raising $25,000, for example, is just a "drop in the bucket" in the grand scheme of things, it directs a spotlight on the need for a new auditorium in the community.

"More important than the money raised is to showcase to our community the need for a theatre," Luongo said. "In the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, from UBC out to Hope and on both sides of the Fraser [River], we're the one community that does not have a performing arts theatre.

That just feels wrong, especially when you look at the quality of talent that we've put out."

That talent included last year's LHT winner, teen dancer Lauren Tokiwa.

Tokiwa may have opened doors for future dancers to enter the competition.

"We had a bit of stigma," Luongo said. "Some of the folks said there was no sense applying if you're a dancer because you can't win. The fact that Lauren won. I was delighted."

Helping to narrow down the 2012 field before eventually picking a winner was a panel of celebrity judges that included Global BC morning anchor Steve Darling, Global BC senior meteorologist Mark Madryga, BC Lions offensive tackle Ben Archibald, Jolienne Moore of JL Model Talent Management, and Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender.

"The diversity of talent we have in our community is amazing," Fassbender said. "It varies from people who have had very little stage experience to those who have had a fair amount."

Fassbender said LHT, backed by the four Rotary clubs of Langley, has done a masterful job of showcasing local talent.

"Momentum has built to reinforce that component our community," he said. "It's very valuable as we look toward a consideration of a performing arts facility."

The mayor added that he had a blast judging the semifinals.

"Having worked in the media industry, I love being a part of celebrating talent and focusing on performances as one aspect of the cultural dimension in our community - it's just a lot fun."

Luongo is currently lining up the next group of judges.

Darling, a.k.a the Simon Cowell of LHT judges, entertained both audience members and contestants with his wit.

"Steve Darling was great. People hated him, because he was blunt!" Luongo said. "Mark Madryga was terrific - highly entertaining."

Looking ahead to the auditions, Luongo said, "We would love a show that has acrobats, dancers, singers, bands, magicians - we're not looking for a kind of talent. We're looking for all kinds of talent."

tlandreville@langleyadvance.com