There’s never a dull moment around JR Russell.

He couldn’t even start off an interview to talk about a new talent show for Whidbey Island youth without a misadventure unfolding.

Russell became unnerved when his cell phone vibrated in his back pocket at exactly the same moment that he pressed a button to activate a keyless entry into his house.

“I thought, ‘Wait a minute. What did I do?’ ” he said.

A retired Navy captain, Russell has transformed himself into a full-time magician and entertainer during his post military career. But his latest act is helping the Whidbey Playhouse promote “Whidbey Has Talent,” a new talent show for island kids that’s happening this spring.

As co-producer of the show, Russell is canvassing the island, spreading word about the show and its March audition dates and seeking sponsors.

Rarely able to contain his comical side, his visits often are accompanied with a hand puppet, but his message is clear.

“It’s an island-wide event to celebrate, promote and showcase all the performing talent of youth on Whidbey Island,” Russell said. “It’s not ‘America’s Got Talent.’ It’s ‘Whidbey Has Talent.’ ”

During an off-island trip, Russell found that Port Townsend holds a similar show for its youth and he thought it would be worth discussing with the Whidbey Playhouse about the merits of one on Whidbey.

The Playhouse concurred and will serve as one of the event’s primary sponsors, donating $1,000 toward scholarship awards.

Island Thrift became the other primary sponsor this week, pledging $2,000, which will essentially cover the two-day rental of the Oak Harbor High School Student Union Building, the site of the talent show on April 24.

The Whidbey Playhouse will be holding auditions for the show March 5-6.

“I think it’s great,” said Tatyana Moore, a home-schooled high school senior from Oak Harbor. “I’ve never heard of anything like this happening on the island before.”

The goal, Russell said, is to put on a talent show “for kids, by kids,” with youth also serving as the program’s master of ceremonies.

“We want to have kids doing everything and have it be entertaining at the same time,” Russell said.

Moore and her friend Trianna Kobelin, a junior, both are planning to audition for the show and would like to be emcees.

“I think that’s going to be an awesome opportunity to be able to talk in front of so many people,” Kobelin said.

Youth in grades K-12 island-wide are eligible to show their talents with separate divisions for elementary, middle school and high school performers. Scholarship awards are being planned for high school and middle school participants.

Kids may display their talents in any of the performing arts from singing to dancing to comedy to magic.

“We just want to get kids onstage and allow them to showcase their talents,” said Russell, whose wife, Sarah Russell, is the event’s chair. “We want to encourage that. Nowadays, kids have become ‘screenagers.’ We don’t want them to do that.”

The talent show is another step by the Whidbey Playhouse to encourage youth to be involved in drama. The playhouse has a growing drama teaching program for youth in its fifth year known as the Would Be Players, run by Stan Thomas.

Thomas also is involved in helping with the talent show, which promoters hope will become an annual event.

The show is busy searching for talented youth performers and adults to help as judges or sponsors.

Interested youth may download an application at www.whidbeyhastalent.com. The deadline to apply for auditions is Feb. 26.

Inquiries may be made via email to info@whidbeyhastalent.com or by calling the playhouse at 360-679-2237.

If you spot a guy with an animal puppet in one hand, that would be Russell, promoting the show.

“I’m not used to doing this,” he said. “Sometimes, I feel awkward but I know the cause is good. Everybody supports it.”