Mike The Pike Productions, Inc. CEO/President Mark B. Newbauer announces ‘Indiana’s Got Talent,’ the first ever statewide talent competition in Indiana with auditions beginning in November 2009 with Semi-Finals in early December and a Final Competition with Industry recognized judges and a celebrity host. “The competition is open to all ages and acts of any kind,” states Jake Slater, a Promotions Associate with MTP. “We’ve partnered with some great sponsors on this for over $10,000 in cash and prizes and it will not only be great for the community but it will also be the first of multiple shows under the ‘Indiana’s Got Talent’ brand which we’ll host semi-annually.”

CEO Newbauer comments, “This is a great idea the team put together. It’s aimed for nothing but profitability due to the low overhead a show like this requires. www.IndianasGotTalent.com is up and running for registration with radio promos beginning Friday. The company has booked 3 weekends at Macy’s Court at The Glenbrook Square Mall in Fort Wayne, Indiana for auditions hosted by one of the city’s hottest radio stations and will be traveling statewide for auditions at Universities and high schools leading to the Semi-Finals. Registration costs range from $10-$25 depending on the size of your act and tickets will go on sale soon starting at $12 to attend the Final Competition to be held at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne’s Rhinehart Music Center.”

In addition, the company is soon to announce some great events for 2009 including its Christmas show featuring some of today’s hottest names, sending out the year with a bang as it prepares to break out with shows across the country in 2010.

Also, the company is finalizing agreements to acquire two assets which, according to executives, will position the company toward expeditious growth in addition to its progress in the Concerts/Events division as well as its Motion Pictures division as it nears dates for casting on ‘Fish in a Barrel’ and ‘Dresden Sun,’ the latter which is setting sights on North Carolina as primary location for principal photography and post production after its state senate passed legislation boosting its refundable tax credit to filmmakers from 15% to 25%. The Dresden Sun team also has in place private investors with the ability to monetize credits toward partial financing up-front for the film. Further details to come on this and MTP’s plans to produce a low-budget crime drama in early 2010.

Meet Nicole Pollard, Miss Indiana 2009

Local Title: Miss Duneland  Hometown: Lafayette, Indiana

Education: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music—Graduate with Distinction— Bachelor of Music Education Lafayette Jefferson High School—Academic Honors Diploma

Platform Issue: The Awareness and Prevention of Eating Disorders

Scholastic/Career Ambition: Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education/high school choral educator

Talent: Broadway Vocal – “And This Is My Beloved” from Kismet

Scholastic Honors: Wells Scholar Nominee; Indiana University Dean’s List—10 consecutive semesters; National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Honors College Scholarship recipient; Jacobs School of Music Dean’s and Faculty’s Talent Scholarship; Pi Lambda Theta education Honor Society; and National Youth Leadership Forum on Law participant.

Leadership Roles: Consultant for Indiana University’s Body Image Campaign; Indiana spokesperson for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD); Founding member of the Indiana Eating Disorder Coalition; Drafted legislation for the Indiana General Assembly advocating for a statewide eating disorders education and public awareness campaign; Leadershape IU participant; and Singing Hoosiers Student Manager, Ladies’ Costume Advisor and Varsity Singers Member.

Accomplishments: Recipient of the 2008 Presidential Service Award; Recipient of an Indiana House of Representatives Resolution; First student to be invited to a Professional Onsite at Remuda Ranch; Featured Speaker concerning the Miss America Organization in Trikala, Greece; Indiana Junior Miss (2004); Cross Country 4-year Varsity Letter Winner; Spoken to more than 1500 children and adults throughout the state of Indiana concerning ANAD.

Interesting Facts: Master of overcoming disaster during student teaching; Hidden talent of performing “tongue tricks;” Named “New Face of IU”; Found 40 Mongolian dancers and got free burritos in only 30 minutes for an event celebrating the Dalai Lama; Traveled to Greece in May 2007 as a singing and speaking ambassador for IU and the Miss Indiana Organization; Had the opportunity to “fly” in The Wizard of Oz.

Employment: Student Teacher—Carmel High School; Student Manager—Indiana University Auditorium; Intern—Tippecanoe County Clerk’s Office; Pianist/Vocalist—Self-Employed.