Seniors Got Talent Lexington
Now announcing
2025 Seniors Got Talent Lexington Winners!
1st Place
Dave Cottrell
Comedian, Age 66
2nd Place
Mary Joan Penner
Opera Singer, Age 72
3rd Place & People's Choice
Robin Gassett
Singer/Songwriter, Age 77
See what Seniors Got Talent Lexington is all about
Join us next year at the Lexington Opera House for the 2026 show!
Co-Hosts
Doug High
Doug High has been a news anchor at ABC 36 since 2009 and currently co-anchors News at Noon with his wife, Lyssa High.
Long-standing ABC 36 viewers will recall that Doug was our morning and noon news anchor for 10 years before accepting the position of executive director for the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation in 2019 and he continues in that role while also very excited to be back on the weekday anchor desk along with hosting the weekly feature report “Kentucky History Treasures” in partnership with the Kentucky Historical Society.
An Emmy award-winning 30-year television broadcasting veteran, Doug has also produced/directed numerous programs and documentaries seen statewide on KET/PBS through his own production company, High Impact Productions.
Doug is a commander/public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, having requested a direct commission following Sept. 11, 2001. His missions have taken him around the world over the past 20 years. Commander High is a decorated veteran, having deployed to Afghanistan in 2017.
Lyssa High
Judge
Richard Ryan
Richard is the 2021 Winner of Seniors Got Talent. He is a graduate of the Mars Hill University School of Music and has a Masters Degree in Church Music from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. Richard has over 50 years of stage experience in the Kentuckiana region including the Stephen Foster Story, Kentucky Opera,and multiple professional and community theatres in both Kentucky and Indiana. He was most recently seen as Ebenezer Scrooge in Christmas Carol the Musical and in the Broadway musical, Curtains.. Richard is the 2024 winner of the VOICE AND VINO singing competition at Caesar’s Casino in Elizabeth, IN. Richard is also an award winning inspirational writer published in multiple books and magazines. Richard lives in Sellersburg, IN, with his wife Cathy Ryan and they have three adult children. Richard is excited to be back at the Lexington Opera House with Seniors Got Talent.
Judge
Austin S. Robinson
Austin Robinson is a board-certified music therapist, educator, and researcher at the University of Kentucky where he specializes in the use of music to support healthy aging. His work focuses on how music-based interventions can enhance mobility, cognitive function, and quality of life in older adults, particularly those living with Parkinson’s disease. He currently leads research on a telehealth music-and-movement program designed to support older adults with PD at home.
Austin received a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Eastern Kentucky University in 2001 and completed a Master’s in Music Therapy at UK in 2015. He has been providing music therapy services to the Central Kentucky region through his private practice, Edge Music Therapy LLC, since 2014.
Currently, Austin teaches graduate courses in music therapy and is completing a PhD in Rehabilitation and Health Sciences at UK. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Bluegrass Parkinson’s Alliance, a local non-profit Parkinson’s support group. Austin is passionate about making music accessible, meaningful, and empowering for everyone.
Judge
Jack Lee Wollman, Jr.
Jack Lee Wollman, Jr. is the Coordinator for Advising and Recruiting for the School of Nursing at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY and the Box Office Manager for Studio Players in Lexington, Kentucky. Jack holds a BFA in Theatre and Arts Administration from University of Kentucky and a MPA in Public Administration from Kentucky State University. In addition, Jack volunteers with SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and serves as the Sheriff for his voting precinct during elections. In his free time, Jack enjoys spending time with his husband and two cats Fancy and Jipsee, enjoys watching movies, and listening to the music of ABBA.
Jack Lee Wollman, Jr. Jack knows the stage inside and out — he’s been in and around the theater world for more than 20 years. He currently serves as the Box Office Manager for Studio Players in Lexington and has also worked with theaters from the UK’s Guignol to the Pam Miller Arts Center, the Lyric Theatre, and even the Papermill Theatre in New Hampshire. With a BFA in Theatre and Arts Administration and years of industry know-how, plus a great sense of humor, Jack brings both expertise and entertainment to our judging panel.
Judge
Chapel Tinius
Chapel Tinius Martin served as Miss Kentucky 2024 and was born and raised in Bowling Green, Chapel is a proud Bowling Green High School Purple and went on to receive a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Corporate Communication from Belmont University. She was the first musical theater major to ever complete dual degrees.
She is the granddaughter of two World War II veterans, which ignited her Community Service Initiative of Operation gratitude: For the Fallen, For the Fighting, For the Veterans. Since the inception of Operation Gratitude, Chapel has run over 30 half marathons and 3 full marathons to raise funds for the Honor Flight Network and Carry The Load. She also started her own 10k series called “Run to Fly” where she runs ten 10ks, in 10 days in 10 different Kentucky counties to fundraise for Honor Flight Kentucky. Chapel’s favorite project though has been creating a violin/harp CD titled “Gratitude”. This is gifted to veterans as a music therapy tool.
Throughout her time as Miss Kentucky, Chapel spoke at over 400 events as the Official Spokesperson for Kentucky Proud with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. She was the first and only Miss Kentucky to achieve the goal of having an event in all 120 counties in the state of Kentucky and travelled over 50,000 miles during her reign.
Chapel now resides in Columbus, Ohio working for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation and was just recently married to the love of her life, Nate Martin. Please welcome Chapel Tinius Martin.
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What Happened at the 2025 Show
On September 9, 2025, 12 acts performed in the Big Show “Seniors Got Talent” at the Lexington Opera House.
Congratulations to all contestants for a superb performance!
First place and the $1000 cash prize went to Dave Cottrell, age 66, who wowed the crowd with a stunning comedic magic show that enthralled everyone.
Second place and the $500 cash prize went to Mary Joan Penner, age 72, who wowed the audience with a powerful Opera performance of “Bester Jüngling.”
Third place, People’s Choice winner and the $250 cash prize went to Robin Gassett, age 77, who captured the stage and the hearts of the audience. His moving original song, “Folded In Her Arms,” raising awareness of veteran suicide.
Join us next September at the Lexington Opera House for our 2026 show!
All proceeds benefit the work of the Morning Pointe Foundation, providing nursing scholarships and caregiver support programs.
Location: Lexington Senior Center
Times: 1:30-3:30 PM
Addresses: 195 Life Lane, Lexington, KY 40502
Phone: (859) 721-0350
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Location: Morning Pointe of Lexington-East
Times: 2-4PM
Addresses: 150 Shoreside Drive, Lexington, KY 40515
Phone: (859) 721-0350
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Location: Morning Pointe of Danville
Time: 2-4 PM
Address: 100 Birney Place Danville, KY 40422
Phone: (859) 306-0202
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Locations: Morning Pointe of Louisville
Times: 6-7 PM
Addresses: 4711 South Hurstbourne Pkwy., Louisville, KY 40291
Phone: (502) 873-3800
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Locations: The Lantern at Morning Pointe, Frankfort
Times: 6-7 PM
Addresses: 66 C. Michael Davenport Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 226-7118
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Location: Morning Pointe of Richmond
Time: 6-7 PM
Address: 1400 Gibson Bay Drive, Richmond, KY 40475
Phone: (859) 626-5000
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Location: Morning Pointe of Lexington
Time: 6-7 PM
Address: 233 Ruccio Way, Lexington, KY 40503
Phone: (859) 554-0060
Final deadline for all auditions is July 24th.
Top contestants will be notified July 29th.
Tryout Qualifications:
- Open to anyone over 60
- Acts may not exceed 3 minutes
- All equipment, music, etc. must be provided by the act
- For groups, there is a max of 6 people in each group
What are Judges Looking for?
- Stage Presence & Professionalism
- Technical Ability
- Appearance/Costume
- Difficulty of Act
- Originality, Creativity