Ever dream of becoming a rock star?

The Merchants of Seaside and the Seaside Repertory Theatre presents Seaside Rocks tournaments March 19 and April 9 at the Seaside Amphitheater.  The two separate tournaments give amateurs and experts alike the chance to show off their skill and originality as they compete to win a grand prize of a gift certificate at Best Buy. The tournament is open to players over the age of 13, and there is a $10 registration fee to enter. The final rounds of the tournament will be open to the public in the Seaside Amphitheater at 7:00 p.m., and will conclude with an audience vote to decide the winner. A maximum of 100 contestants may enter for each week. Anyone interested in signing up for the event can visit www.seasiderep.org or call 850-231-0733.

Guitar Hero is a popular video game in which players use a guitar-shaped controller to simulate the playing of music, represented on-screen by colored notes that correspond to buttons on the controller. The Guitar Hero franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, having sold 30 million units across multiple gaming systems.

Seaside’s Guitar Hero tournament will be different from most that are held in electronic stores and arcades around the world, in that the judging will not be based solely on points accumulated within the game, but equal weight will be given to originality and stage presence. Contestants will sign up for a slot in the preliminary round, in which they will play two songs for a panel of judges. The top scorers will advance to the second round in which they will perform for the amphitheater audience and a panel of “celebrity” judges. All performances will be simulcast onto the Rep’s 35ft movie screen. The panel and the audience will select the final round participants, who will battle for the championship and the grand prize, based on audience vote. For complete contest rules, visit www.seasiderep.org