Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
A new reign has begun in Pacific Palisades. Gilli Shir Messer and Riley Karp were chosen by a panel of entertainment industry judges as the new Miss and Mr. Palisades for 2004 at the town’s annual teen talent show March 17, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Messer, 15, a PaliHi sophomore, sang a powerful rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from ‘Les Mis’rables.’ Karp, 16, a junior at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, played flawless piano with Bach’s Prelude in D Minor and Chopin’s Etude in G-flat Major, which he pointed out was a study of the black keys (he also mentioned that his right hand would play only those keys). The teens each won a $2,000 scholarship from the Chamber plus a sterling silver key chain from Denton Jewelers. They will appear in events throughout the year, including riding in the Fourth of July parade, joining Santa on the fire truck for Holiday Ho!Ho!Ho! and appearing at Chamber of Commerce mixers and events. Brittany O’Neil, 15, a PaliHi sophomore who tap danced to Bob Fosse’s ‘Sing, Sing, Sing,’ and Damon Cole, 16, a junior at Loyola High School who sang a classical piece, ‘Amarilli, mia bella’ by Giulio Caccini, and played Bach’s Toccata in D Minor on piano, were named runners-up. They will step in for the winners if they are not able to perform their duties throughout the year. They also each received $200. The event, which was held on St. Patrick’s Day at Pierson Playhouse, had a theme of ‘End of the Rainbow.’ Choreographer Thea White had the contestants, dressed in green T-shirts for the opening number, dance an Irish jig, then get down to OutKast’s ‘Hey Ya’ with jazz-funk moves. ‘The contestants had a lot of different talents,’ White said. ‘It made for an interesting show.’ The judges were actress Frances Fisher, Friends of Film founder Bob Sharka, post-production sound editor and mixer Bobby Mackston, talent agency owner Kathy O’Brien Sunderland and assistant director and stage manager Lindsay Weems. They had the difficult job of choosing the winners among the 10 talented contestants using the criteria of character, talent, communication, poise and presentation. The show flowed along smoothly with the help of the experienced co-hosts Cathie Wishnick and Fuad Saglie, Mr. Palisades 1990 and a KEYT anchorman in Santa Barbara. During the interview portion, each teen was asked about something from their biography and their future plans, and also had to answer the Big Question, which was: ‘Some people say they don’t vote, because one vote could not make a difference. What would you say to change their mind?’ In answer Messer said, ‘This is completely wrong’if you just sit home and don’t put your two cents in. I’m a strong believer in having a strong opinion.’ Karp said, ‘You should support the government that supports you, if they ask you to do something as simple as vote.’ Both winners are interested in international travel and the performing arts. Messer talked about being half-Israeli and half-American. ‘I spend every summer there,’ she said. ‘I see what my friends and family go through with terrorism and terrible events’it makes me want to live life to the fullest.’ Her plans include college and pursuing her ‘passion for musical theater. No matter what, I need to do theater, it’s my sanctuary.’ Karp talked about spending last summer in Japan as part of the Los Angeles-Nagoya sister city program. ‘I spent three weeks touring Japan learning about Japanese culture, lifestyle and music. I was most impressed with the Japanese respect for one another and the community.’ Karp plans to go to college and pursue a musical career. ‘I think there’s a lot more room for art in this world.’ The winners were presented with their sashes by outgoing Mr. and Miss Palisades, DJ Hance and Anne Marie Barrette, who talked about how much they had enjoyed their roles the past year. The two also gave their farewell performances. Barrette played Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C Sharp Minor and Hance presented an amusing slide presentation of the top 10 similarities between Ireland and the Palisades, based on his trip to Ireland last summer (including a jab at our town’s local paper: ‘They have their Blarney Stone, we have the Palisadian-Post’). Dancer Katie Grubiak, a friend of choreographer Thea White, performed an Irish fusion dance, in keeping with the St. Patrick’s Day theme, while the judges’ votes were tabulated. ‘I’m overjoyed,’ said Karp, who has studied piano for 12 years. ‘It was really amazing and incredible performing in front of everybody.’ His parents, Susan and Bob Karp, and older brother Noah, Mr. Palisades 1999, were there to cheer him on. His other brother, Felix, was the runner-up in 2000. When Messer heard her name, she later said ‘I didn’t think it was real, I thought it was a fairy tale. I didn’t expect it.’ She is the daughter of Chana and Stephen Messer and the older sister of Romi. They were Jessica Lee, a sophomore who sang a sweet and funky version of the ballad ‘Killing Me Softly’; sophomore Lauren Hunziker, who did a jazz dance to ‘Let the Good Times Roll’; sophomore Devon Miller, who gave an oral presentation on ‘Historic Words of America’; sophomore Mitchell Dubey, who played electric guitar and sang ‘Always Have, Always Will’ by the Impossibles; sophomore Courtney Stich, who performed a comic monologue from Mitch Hedburg’s HBO show; and junior Gavin Jones, who sang his own original composition, ‘Let Me.’ Several of the contestants were friends who decided it would be fun to enter together, said runner-up Brittany O’Neil. ‘All of the participants are such good friends. We bonded completely and had an amazing time.’ Candida Piaggi and Carol Smolinisky were co-chairs of the event, and the musical accompaniment was provided by the Triumphant Trio’PaliHi teacher Terry Henderson on guitar, and Pali students Daniel Manzoor on bass and Renata Coco on alto sax and flute. The first Miss Palisades was named in 1958, with Mr. Palisades added to the competition in 1990.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
