Singers hit high notes at Peabody show

PEABODY – Former Tanner City Idol winner Danielle Whalen came to Saturday’s sold-out Dueling Duets show as a Celebrity Guest Performer vying for one of the three possible awards with partner Katelyn Silva: Best Chemistry, Most Creative, or Most Entertaining. But, never in her wildest dreams did she expect to leave the stage with a diamond ring on her hand.Just prior to the second annual show that pairs current Tanner City Idols with local high-profilers, Artie Roberts, Jr. was found “hyperventilating in the hallway,” said the show’s producer Stephanie McGeney.”He told me he wanted to come out from behind the curtain (and propose) to Danielle,” she said. “I told him to let her finish the song first, so she wouldn’t get nervous.”And that’s just what he did.Moments after hearing the judges’ feedback, the event’s emcee, School Committee member Dave McGeney appeared from the audience with one of Whalen’s biggest fans.”I was in tears before he even got up on stage,” recalled a gleeful Whalen, 29, who laughed when using the term ‘fiancé.’ “I didn’t know what to do with myself.”Roberts, 38, came onto the stage, got down on one knee, and asked his former bandmate and girlfriend to be his wife.”It was a great feeling. My family was there and his parents were there. I was on cloud nine,” said Whalen.Audience members shared another surprise when former Tanner City Idol Joe Ruggiero, who couldn’t perform due to recent knee surgery, snuck his way into the auditorium to watch his 12-year-old daughter Christina sing. McGeney said tears began to fill everyone’s eyes, for the second time, as they watched the utter surprised look on his daughter’s face.”It was like an emotional rollercoaster,” said McGeney.City Councilor Dave Gravel brought some comical entertainment to the night during his performance of Kelly Clarkson’s American Idol hit “A Moment Like This.””Gravel’s part was one line and he only had to sing it three times,” recalled McGeney, adding that Gravel would build it up and get more creative each time. “It was absolutely hysterical.”Gravel’s unique singing style earned him and his partner Stephanie McCarthy the award for Most Creative; Higgins Middle School teacher Vincent Raponi III and Rebecca Sacca won for Best Chemistry; and voice instructor Joey Scott and Melissa Mills took the cake for Most Entertaining.Councilors Arthur Athas and Michael Garabedian, and Barbara Smyrnios, whom McGeney calls “the funniest girl I know,” were this year’s judges.The show lasted much longer than anticipated, just over three hours to be exact, but McGeney said it was worth it.”Everyone was entertained from the minute the lights went down,” she said.”Tryouts for the 2008 Tanner City Idols begin next month on Saturday, May 31 from 9-5 p.m. at the Torigian Life Center. The day will be open to the entire North Shore, not just Peabody residents, and hopefuls are welcome to stop in at any time. Callbacks will take place the next day from 9-12 p.m.For more information on how to try out, or to catch a glimpse of the Dueling Duets in action, log on to www.weareamericaproductions.com.