T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM The Monroe Theatre in Woodsfield will host the second annual Monroe Has Talent show Sept. 12.

WOODSFIELD — The second annual Monroe Has Talent show is set for Sept. 12, but it remains unclear if it will be held virtually or in person due to COVID-19 restrictions on entertainment venues.

Mick Schumacher, county commissioner and a member of the arts council, said due to Gov. Mike DeWine’s order limiting the Monroe Theatre’s occupancy to 15 percent capacity, theater officials are unsure if they will be able to hold the talent show in house.

“We may have to hold it virtually this year. We’re just trying to figure out which way to go right now. … It’s very discouraging,” he said.

Tuesday was the deadline for contestants interested in participating in the show. There were 10 submissions as of Tuesday morning, Schumacher said.

“We will have a couple participants back from last year’s show,” he added.

Contestants’ talents will include singing, dancing and various musical performances. The program will include two elimination rounds in which the panel of judges will select five acts to move to the semi-finals.

The show will have a total of five winners, with the four runners-up winning trophies and cash prizes. The first place winner will be awarded $500 and the chance to cut a demo with A to Z Sound. Additionally, the winner will be given the opportunity to perform at the Monroe County Theatre next year.

Mike Calovini, who plays the guitar and sings, placed first in last year’s talent show.

The event is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the theater in Woodsfield. Schumacher said the final decision on whether the show will be done virtually will be announced as the date approaches.

The theater also recently held its first junior talent show, Monroe Has Talent Youth Edition, in July. Eleven of the county’s youth performed. The show originally was scheduled for March but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Awards were presented in two different age brackets, ages 5-10 and 11-20, in vocal, instrumental, dance and other categories. The winners included 8-year-old Hudson Lockyer, 5-10 vocal category; Kadelan Griffith, 11-20 vocal category; Mason Blackstone, 5-10 instrumental category; Carson Kuhn, 11-20 instrumental category; Zach Babcock, 11-20 dance category; and Haddon Lockyer, 11-20 other category.

Kuhn, a 15-year-old pianist, took home the Best of Show and Artistic Excellence awards. All of the night’s winners received trophies and cash prizes.

Prior to the theater being restored and reopened, a similar event was hosted by the Woodsfield Kiwanis Club. It held a talent competition for more than 30 years before the theater began hosting Monroe Has Talent last year.