This Wednesday, 16 candidates will perform in a talent show for the 10th annual Mr. Wash. U. Show at Edison Theatre. The candidate with the most points—awarded by the judges for the introductions, group dance numbers, individual talents and question-and-answer sessions—will receive the title and crown of Mr. Wash. U.

Leading up to the competition, the candidates have been involved in individual and group fundraising efforts to raise money for City Faces, an organization founded by architecture professor Bob Hansman that works with young people living in public housing to “change the course of [their] lives by offering visual art as one alternative to selling drugs and becoming involved in gangs.” City Faces receives no government, city or Wash. U. funding and thus relies entirely on Mr. Wash. U. fundraising and the help of a few private donors.

“Mr. Wash. U. is a really wonderful and creative way to raise money for City Faces, especially because our fundraising makes up their entire budget. I’ve gotten to volunteer at their studio in the Clinton-Peabody housing district downtown. Even though it’s a small studio, the kids really love going there—to the extent that they’ll even show up when it’s not their day,” Mr. Wash. U. candidate and senior Rachel Catanese said.

The candidate who fundraises the most money for City Faces gets additional points toward winning the ultimate title. The initial application process for candidates takes into account students’ previous campus involvements, as well as current commitments and how each student specifically feels that he/she can contribute to Mr. Wash. U., in order to select those who will be most willing to help City Faces. After the application and interview rounds, potential candidates have to gain support through campus-wide voting to demonstrate their ability to get others to rally behind their cause.

Collaborative fundraisers put on by the Mr. Wash. U. Executive Council included fall festival, where the candidates were announced; events involving human bowling in Tisch Commons and pie-ing a candidate in the face; and benefit nights at local restaurants and sales of shirts that say “Chancellor Wrighton is my homeboy” or “Risa Zwerling is my homegirl.”

Co-president of Mr. Wash. U. and senior Diane-Jo Bart-Plange has helped develop these fundraising efforts to encourage campus involvement with Mr. Wash. U.

“I have been connected to Mr. Wash. U. since freshman year, when I was in the talent [portion] of a Mr. Wash. U. candidate, who now happens to be the other co-president. Because of that experience, I joined Mr. Wash. U. Exec on the internal committee. At the end of my junior year, Christian Gordon and I decided to take on the role of president together,” Bart-Plange said.

The individual talents in the show are completely up to the candidates. In the past, there has been dancing, singing and even a boy band called the Skinker Boys, so it’s a totally new experience each year. Because this year’s show is commemorating its 10th anniversary, this is the first time the show has had a theme: Survivor Mr. Wash. U.

Catanese wouldn’t reveal her individual talent, but in reflecting on her experience with Mr. Wash. U. so far, she said, “I think I have two favorite things: the first would be having a better sense of how one individual can affect the lives of people around them, and the other would be the people I’ve met through the process: the people on Exec, the other candidates and even the people who work for City Faces. Everyone has been so welcoming and enthusiastic about the kind of work that we’re doing.”

The Mr. Wash. U. show is Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at Edison Theatre. Tickets can be bought at the Edison box office or from any Mr. Wash. U. Executive Council member. Regular tickets are $12 and VIP tickets cost $22. Those who want to support City Faces but cannot attend the show can donate online.