These tryouts are open, free to the public

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Havre residents will have the opportunity to see some of othe best talent in the region Saturday when performers audition for the Montana Performing Arts Consortium here.

The purpose of the gathering is for various nonprofit organizations in the region, which includes Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, to select artists for community performing arts series, like Havre's Northern Showcase.

Each artist or group, selected in advance by a consortium jury to perform on Saturday, will present a 12-minute live sample performance, with a five-minute break between acts.

The event, called a block booking conference, will begin in the Havre High School auditorium at 9 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. Among the acts will be Havre's own Timely Trio, composed of Dena Tippets, Mavis Filler and Kim Callahan, who perform original ballads in three-part harmony.

The performances are free and open to the public.

Here's the schedule of performers:

9 a.m. - Golden Bough, quality Celtic music by a trio of internationally acclaimed musicians from Pacifica, Calif.

9:17 a.m. - Mo-Trans Dance Company, Montana's only professional contemporary touring dance company, from Missoula.

9:34 a.m. - Caravan of Dreams World Dance Troupe, features unique offerings of ethnic dance and music, from Bozeman.

9:51 a.m. - Timely Trio, original songs, largely with a ballad style, have a message they want to share.

10:08 a.m. - Watercarvers Guild, fresh, original folk-grass music by a father and sons acoustic band from Helena.

10:25 a.m. - Robin Spielberg, a one-woman piano show that blends classical, popular, jazz and new age piano music from Upper Montclair, N.J.

12:30 p.m. - Keith Knight, a guitar player whose picking has been described as a fast-paced, rapid-fire and hell-bent Appalachian frenzy from Charleston, S.C.

12:47 p.m. - Cascade Quartet, a variety of string chamber works ranging from classic to contemporary, from Great Falls.

1:04 p.m. - Mud Bay Jugglers, who weave theater, dance physical comedy and juggling, from Olympia, Wash.

1:21 p.m. - Chuck Suchy, a farmer, singer, songwriter and storyteller with original songs and stories, from Mandan, N.D.

1:38 p.m. - Bill Bowers, an actor and mime who will present selections from his critically acclaimed piece, "Under a Montana Moon," from Missoula.

1:55 p.m. - Paul Hann, one of Canada's most versatile performers of musical shows for children and adults, from Edmonton, Alberta.

3:30 p.m. - Eden Atwood & The Last Best Band, an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, blues and rhythm and blues from Missoula.

3:47 p.m. - Four Shadow, an a capella quartet that performs original songs and tunes by groups like the Beach Boys and Paul Simon, from Minneapolis.

4:04 p.m. - Lorkovic & Zimmerman, boogie blues with a classic influence on the piano and cello, from Phillipsburg.

4:21 p.m. - Mandir, described as contemporary world music combining melodic and rhythmic elements from India, West Africa and the West, from Arlee.

4:38 p.m. - Last Chance Dixieland Jazz Band, Jazz from the 20th century to the 1940s, from Great Falls.