The call finally came for Aubrey Burchell.
Following her run to the semifinals of “America’s Got Talent” in September, the North Huntingdon singer was contracted to perform in “America’s Got Talent Presents Super Stars Live” at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas as an on-call, as-needed performer for the show’s 2023 season.
“I was wondering when I’m gonna be heading out there, and before I knew it, I looked down at my phone and there (the email) was,” she said.
Burchell took to the stage for two shows Sunday, May 14, performing The Weeknd’s “Call Out My Name,” her signature tune from the competition.
Mentally and emotionally, she said, what happened in Vegas was much easier than what happened on the NBC sound stage.
“I was significantly less stressed out,” she said. “The environment was different because there weren’t cameras and cues to look certain places. There wasn’t hours of filming before I sang.
“I felt the pressure was lifted because I had earned it. It was just me and the stage, and it felt good,” she said.
In preparation for the call-up, the North Huntingdon resident traveled to Las Vegas in December for an orientation and rehearsal.
“Then there was a dress rehearsal three hours prior to the show to get some of the kinks out, to practice in the dress, to practice bows, that kind of thing,” she said.
Burchell had a health scare about a week before the trip, after coming down with a viral infection that caused her to lose her voice for a few days.
“It was not cool at the time, but I took very good care of myself,” she said. “I was pretty much dependent on prednisone to sing. I definitely was still a little bit hoarse, but I don’t think it was noticeable.”
Though it was a whirlwind trip, Burchell had time after the shows to catch up with fellow Season 17 castmates, including comedian-magician Mervant Vera, who has become a good friend, and comedian and host Jordan Conley.
The Luxor audiences “were really nice to me; it was super cool,” she said.
And the producers told her she’d be back, although they haven’t said when.
In the meantime, Burchell has been in the studio at Cobblesound Recording Co. near New Kensington, working on an album of mostly original music.
She has been singing throughout the area and is cast in two upcoming musicals — “Heathers,” June 15-18 at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale, and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” July 7-9 at The State Theatre in Uniontown.
But if Las Vegas calls again, an understudy will have to take over.
“They are both aware of where I stand,” she said.
The whole “AGT” journey still feels a little surreal, she added.
“But I want people to know that I am part of the local music scene, and this could be any one of us if you keep applying yourself and putting yourself out there,” she said. “Hard work truly does pay off, and it feels good.”
