By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Upon embracing performance art as a high school sophomore, Vacherie native Brian Falgoust Jr. likely had no idea where his newfound interest would take him. Nor did his family.

But today, Falgoust’s star shines brightly — it shines on national television, in fact.

Falgoust, 23, has earned notoriety as part of the Lightwire Theater troupe that currently competes Tuesday and Wednesday nights on NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent”.

The winner of the show will earn a substantial award — a million-dollar prize. Falgoust and his Lightwire teammates are very much in contention to earn that bounty. The troupe is one of 16 semifinalists left to vie for the show’s crown.

America’s Got Talent is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and performers of all ages. The show has aired since 2006. Currently, the judges on the show are Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Sharon Osbourne. The final results come down to a vote by the show’s national audience.

The show is currently on a two-week hiatus because of NBC’s Olympic coverage. It will return on Aug. 14.

Falgoust, 23, was recruited to join the troupe by Lightwire co-creator Ian Carney, who knew Falgoust from performing alongside him in New Orleans theater — each was recently involved with Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre.

“Ian wanted to audition for the show, and he needed to form a troupe,” said Falgoust’s mother, Annie Falgoust. “He knew Brian already from performing with him, and he called him up and asked him to join the group. He jumped at the opportunity. He feels like it’s a rare chance.”

Lightwire’s act combines choreographed dance with neon-lit costumes and puppetry, illuminating an otherwise pitch-black studio with the team’s creations, a glow-in-the-dark cast of characters. The visual the team creates has been compared to that of the nighttime parades of Disney.

“I think they’ve got a good, good chance,” Annie Falgoust said. “To me, they’re definitely one of the most unique groups on the show.”

Brian Falgoust discovered his passion for the arts in high school, through his drama class and chorus participation at E.D. White.

That interest was accelerated when he discovered NOCCA, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, where he began attending classes as a sophomore and where he went on to be a graduate.

Since 2006, he has 23 stage productions to his credit on the website “StageClick.com,” his most recent the show “Spring Awakening” at Southern Rep Theatre. He has also performed at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre and Le Petit Theatre in the French Quarter, among others.

Annie Falgoust said the experience of going up to Newark, N.J., to see her son and his group perform on NBC two weeks ago was “an awesome experience.”

“When the results flashed and they showed that they were one of the 16 left … it was just wild that night. It was so exciting,” she said. “It’s just such an awesome opportunity for him. Not many people get to experience something like that.

“He’s realizing what it feels like to perform in front of America and to see his talent being recognized, finally, on such a large level. He’s really enjoying himself.”

She said she hopes the run continues, noting that the support of everyone locally is what ultimately will continue to spur him.

“I think they’ve got a great chance, but again, America’s gonna vote,” she said. “He’s had great support from everyone around here and in the community. That support would be what pushes them into the finale.”