Got your ticket to the big 'Idols' show yet?

If not, you'd better hurry as the two-week countdown has begun for the third annual Arts & Idols Scholarship Gala presented by the Utica Community Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence. 

The highly anticipated event will take place May 12 at the Palazzo Grande Banquet and Event Center in Shelby Township and will feature dinner, silent and live auctions and the marquee performances of eleven 'Idol' finalists.  The gala begins at 6 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m.

Nine women and two men were selected from nearly 100 hopefuls in January to become performers and the final competition will no doubt be hard fought.  Each performer will get just one shot to perform one song of their choice for the judges.  The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. 

Celebrity judges scheduled to appear are WJR radio host and voice of University of Michigan football Frank Beckmann, radio personalities Big Al and Jackie Purtan, former Detroit Red Wing and current Red Wings color analyst Mickey Redman, former Detroit Tiger Dave Rozema and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

The "arts" portion of the evening will showcase UCS artistic talents, which will be available for purchase as part of the silent and live auctions. 

“The importance of this event is that all of the proceeds will go the Superintendent’s Scholarship Fund for the Utica Community Schools,” said Gene Klida, USC Foundation for Educational Excellence trustee and vice president of the UCS Board of Education. “The entertainment of the event itself is fun, but raising money for our kids is the true importance."

Since its inception, the Arts & Idols Gala has raised more than $30,000 for UCS graduates to continue their education.

Individual tickets are still available for $65 and can be obtained by visiting www.artsandidols.com.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available through the website or by contacting the foundation directly at 586-797-6953.