WARREN — People already may be familiar with the reality competition show “America’s Got Talent,” but they may not have realized there is so much senior (ages 55-plus) talent in the Mahoning Valley.

On Saturday the first Senior Showcase “Seniors Got Talent” show took place at the Robins Theatre in downtown Warren. The event, sponsored by SCOPE of Trumbull County, featured the creative endeavors of 78 local performers in 26 acts that ranged from dancers and singers to magicians and comedians.

The emcees were WYTV-33 “Daybreak” hosts Jim Loboy and Len Rome. The duo’s easy banter, honed over years of working together, was perfect for the afternoon crowd as they kept the show’s pace moving smoothly.

Rome even displayed some of his dancing skills when he joined the country line dancers from the Cortland SCOPE Center.

During the showcase, Loboy said, “Talent is just oozing from the Robins Theatre today.”

As a fitness instructor at Shepherd of the Valley, Jen Dagati became aware of the numerous artistic abilities of the senior population.

“I feel the past, present and future talents of our seniors are not showcased enough,” she said.

Dagati remarked on the diverse age group of the performers and the accomplishments they gain from performing in the show.

“They love the challenge and the new experiences of appearing on stage. We have professional performers and amateur performers from 55 to 93 years old,” she said.

The showcase entertainers were from Cortland, Howland, Newton Falls, Poland, Youngstown and surrounding areas.

Some of the acts had professional experience like Carol Bovee, who opened the show singing “God Bless the USA,” and returned to sing “Come Rain or Come Shine.” Bovee has sung in Las Vegas with various musicians and in the St. Jude Telethon when St. Jude Hospital founder, Danny Thomas, was the host.

Others were making their stage debut. Kathy Shiflet and her sister, Charlotte Sanford, and Kathy’s husband, Frank Shiflet, performed the comedy skit, “Online Dating in my 70s.”

Musical talent can be discovered even after you have left formal schooling. At the age of 50, Sandra Miles learned to play the saxophone. She performed “Praise is What I Do,” on the sopranino saxophone.

Dagati, one of the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy dancers as well as a member of the showcase dancers, said she did not take up dance until she was 55.

Other entertainers had much more experience in their chosen creative pursuit. Beth Chepke is a dancer, choreographer and a teacher with more than 44 years experience in dance. She performed and choreographed a solo piece to “Feeling Good.”

Tim Brown also has a lot of musical experience. He grew up playing the bass guitar while his dad played the drums. Now, he directs his church choir.

On Saturday, he sang “How Sweet It is to be Loved by You.”

Audience members came to the showcase for various reasons.

Toni Blake of Warren said the fact that the show said Senior Showcase caught her eye.

“I wanted to see what talent our seniors have,” she said.

Seven members of Lupe Cohen’s family came to see their wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother dance in the show. Her granddaughters, Tori and Taylor Blandine, had flowers to present to her after the curtain call.

Her husband, Jordan Cohen, said, “We will be married 40 years, and she was dancing before we got married.”

Others attending the show came to support their neighbors who were onstage.

Magician and member of the legendary Magic Castle club in Los Angeles, Gary Morton, commented about the entertainers who appeared onstage,

“The performers have stepped out of their comfort zone to perform for you this afternoon,” he said.

Dagati explained the group’s approach to the six-week rehearsal period to prepare for their performance and feel ready to be onstage as being “full of energy and commitment to bring a fun and dynamic theater experience to the community.”