Dozens of NYC seniors compete for top spot in city’s offbeat talent show: ‘Music is therapy’

Dozens of senior citizens hailing from all over the five boroughs sang, danced and performed poetry in the city’s third annual Talent Is Timeless competition on Thursday.

The competitors – ranging in age from 60s to 90s – took to the historic United Palace Theater in Washington Heights Thursday morning after making it through other elimination rounds hosted at the likes of Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music earlier this year.

“These are the people who built this city — now they can entertain this city,” Department of Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez told The Post, adding that the idea for the contest came from Mayor Eric Adams after a senior pickleball contest.

The event is part of a city initiative to combat stereotypes about its aging residents, officials said.

“The most important thing is to never let that ability you have diminish,” Cortés-Vázquez added.

The spirited variety show spanned mediums, genres and generations, with older New Yorkers showing off their talents via folk music and sea shanties to Spanish-language ballads and even belly dancing.

Nearly 800 individuals and groups repping the city’s 300-plus older adult centers were whittled down to just 22 acts at the Thursday grand finale.

First place winner Thelma Ruffin Thomas, a 91-year-old retired librarian, performed “Thelma’s Rap” – a poem written to her by a friend — about centuries of black history interwoven with her own family’s story.

The Chelsea resident also recently competed in the national finals of the swimming backstroke for adults over 90.

Staten Islander Gianvito Bottalico, 77, performed “That’s Amore” while juggling handmade props – including a spinning pizza pie.

The Italian-born singer – who arrived in Brooklyn at 19 years old before relocating to Eltingville, Staten Island five years ago – said it was an easy decision to belt the 1953 tune made famous by Dean Martin.

“It’s a song that includes everyone,” he said. “It’s easy to understand. It’s about love and innocence and expressing clear love for a girl, for the world, for friendship, for everything.”

John Baxter, 88, sang an original folk song dubbed “Patricia” dedicated to his first love as a teenager, and Brooklyn resident Andrea Levitt declared her undying love for the limelight with a rendition of “Broadway Baby.” 

The 83-year-old cabaret singer, who has performed at the likes of Hell’s Kitchen’s “Don’t Tell Mama,” said her secret to staying young is enjoying life surrounded by family and friends — including actor Paul Giamatti, who came out to congratulate her after the performance.

“Singing and giving pleasure to others and yourself can bring you so much joy,” Levitt said.

Other winners included the eight-member KCS Senior Dance Team from the Korean-American Flushing Older Adult Center, which took home the best group award.

Amanda Rodriguez, of Manhattan, won third place for her dance to “La Negra,” while Bronx resident Barbara Gray, 70, scored both second place and audience favorite for her vocal rendition of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.”

“All of a sudden I get off the stage, everybody was applauding, it was such a rush,” Gray, of Riverdale, remarked. “I really like the idea that this is for seniors.

“American idol doesn’t want you if you’re 28 years old,” she added. “We’re older, but everyone still has a lot of talent.”