The first week of the 81st annual Kiwanis Speech and Arts Festival winds up Saturday with the fourth Annual Musical Theatre Showcase at the Yates Centre.

“It’s gone very well,” said Executive Director Carole Roberts, who is calling it quits after six years at the helm of the long running local festival, which features close to 5,000 young performers including members of bands and choirs.

“We’re always looking for ways to bring people in,” said Roberts, adding the Musical Theatre Showcase is a recent addition to the festival designed to highlight the plethora of fantastic musical theatre entrants.

“We’ve seen a handful of people  who aren’t related to anybody performing, just coming just for pure enjoyment,” she added, noting everybody is welcome to come and listen to Lethbridge’s up and coming talent performing at the festival.

 Events are going on in the Yates Memorial Centre, Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Southminster United Church, Lethbridge Public Library Gallery, St. Augustine’s  Church and St. Augustine’s Hall every day throughout the week.

 While the first week was mainly musical theatre, choirs and a few instrumentals including flute and woodwind plus vocals, next week features piano, vocals, speech including several selections from Shakespeare on April 15, strings and plenty of bands.

“We have such great talent here. It’s so impressive,” Roberts said.

“And watching them grow their talent is so inspiring,” she continued.

 The Fourth Annual Musical Theatre Showcase runs April 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Yates Centre. Admission is  $5 each or $15 for families.

The festival winds up with the Stars of the Festival Concert, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Yates Centre.