Young ventriloquist wins $1,000 prize at Rockwall talent show
By J.J. Smith. A fourteen-year-old ventriloquist from Heath won the $1,000 first place prize at the “Rockwall’s Got Talent” show hosted by the Rockwall Community Playhouse recently at Utley Middle School.
Laryssa Bonacquisti, 14, the daughter of Doctor Gary and Lynette Bonacquasti of Heath, won the event by performing her “Auctioneer” routine, featuring her puppets Lucky and Lucy. (Photos courtesy of Pegasus News/photos taken by Scott Dorn)
You can see her perform her routine on YouTube.com at:Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEe-bHmzP2g
According to Playhouse spokeswoman Deb Caperton Ballard, she was selected by a combination of audience votes and local celebrity judges Rockwall District Judge Brett Hall, former Rockwall Mayor Alma Howard Williams and an opera singer, whose name is not currently available.
The ventriloquist beat out 19 other finalists who were selected from a field of 37 semifinalists, after they performed Friday night.
“We were very, very pleasantly surprised with her selection,” said Dr. Bonacquisti, who is one of seven physicians on staff at Benchmark Family Medicine in Rockwall and Rowlett. “There was some really excellent talent. In fact, there was some incredible talent not even in the top three.”
“Laryssa is used to competing, so we don’t anticipate anything. You just do your best and hope it turns out okay.”
He explained that Laryssa, who is an eighth-grade student at Dallas Christian School, also competes in beauty pageants. She is the currently the reigning Miss Denton County and will compete in the Miss Teen Texas pageant in July. Her mother, Lynette, is a former Miss New Jersey in the Miss America pageant.
Dr. Bonacquisti added that Laryssa also was selected by “America’s Got Talent” TV show winner Terry Fator from Mesquite, who consequently won a $100 million contract and now performs in Las Vegas, to open his show last year at The Bass Hall in Ft. Worth.
“She is the youngest performer to ever perform at The Bass Hall, ” he said.
Winning second place and a $500 prize was Cole Ragsdale for his vocal performance of “Bring Him Home.” He was accompanied on piano by Josh Miller.
Third place and $250 was awarded to singer Dennis Guillon, who sang “This Is The Moment.”
Prizes were donated local Coldwell Banker realtor Vicki Chesna ($1,000), Community National Bank ($500) and Heath Hair Salon & Day Spa owner Juana French ($250).
The Rockwall Community Playhouse hosted the talent show to raise funds for a new Playhouse facility. Ballard said the show was a big success and they will now hold the talent show annually to raise additional funds.
