An inaugural event that sought talent performers with no specific boundaries or parameters has garnered singers, dancers, musicians and a puppeteer who recites Shakespeare through felt lips.

It didn’t take long for the organizers of the first Butler’s Got Talent event to find out that, yes, Butler does have talent.

“We had a handful of fundraising ideas … this is the one that the board approved,” Jessica Sanzotti, a member of Musical Theatre Guild’s fundraising committee, said. “Since it’s our first time, we were like, ‘Anything goes.’ Any talent, any age — they don’t have to be from Butler County.”

Butler’s Got Talent will take place Friday, Feb. 7, at Butler Little Theatre, and will feature 10 performers who will vie for the judge’s choice title and audience favorite awards at the event. The Musical Theatre Guild released a request for talent a few months ago, and got about a dozen entries into what will be somewhat like a talent show competition.

Sanzotti said the number of entries the guild received was encouraging, and attendees of the show will get a good survey of different types of performance talent from around the area.

“We have a nice variety,” Sanzotti said. “I think we have two vocalists, one group that is sing dance and act, we have a puppeteer … we have a ballroom dancing couple, a singer songwriter and guitarist.”

The guild recruited three judges, who will be the deciding factor in awarding the $250 grand prize. There also will be an audience choice award, which also will give $250 to a performer, which could be the same performance that receives the judge’s choice award, Sanzotti said.

One of the judges is Tom Panei, a locally-based visual and music artist. The other judges are Butler County Chamber of Commerce president Jordan Grady and Sarah Bishop, a Butler native who performs in New York City. Sami Roth, who has titles with Miss America programs, will be the event’s host, and will introduce the performers.

Panei said he is not sure what to expect from the show, but plans to be a supportive judge to the people putting their talents on display.

“It's going to be kind of fun. I’ll give them a little bit of advice, if I can,” Panei said. “I’d rather be a judge that gives advice and things to improve on, just compliment them.”

Panei added that the show likely will showcase a fun variety for people watching, giving attendees a fun Friday night activity.

“It’s something different, which is kind of neat,” Panei said.

Sanzotti said that since this is the first time the guild has hosted Butler’s Got Talent, she and the organizers are not positive about the length of the show, but she anticipates it will be under two hours.

“I anticipate that the talent part and introductions will be an hour,” Sanzotti said. “Then we’ll do a 15-minute intermission for voting and then announcement. So about an hour-and-a-half.”

Doors open for Butler’s Got Talent at 7 p.m., and the show will begin at 7:30 Feb. 7 at Butler Little Theatre, 1 Howard St., Butler. Tickets are available on the guild’s website for $32.50, and at the door. Sanzotti said attendees can buy up to five additional audience votes for $10 each.