Harris, Blackhurst and Sullivan will also perform on the days they judge the competition, which will take place over eight Monday nights at 7 PM at the Metropolitan Room. Fifty-one singers have been chosen to compete.

Harris will appear and judge Aug. 16, Blackhurst will do the same Aug. 23, and Sullivan will pull double-duty Aug. 30.

Roy Sander and critic Rob Lester will serve as permenant judges of the competition, working with a rotating group of judges set to include cabaret and jazz entertainers Eric Comstock, Baby Jane Dexter, Barbara Fasano, Sharon McNight and Ricky Ritzel, and media personalities Bill Boggs, David Kenney, Donald Smith and Valerie Smaldone.

The contest's schedule consists of "three trial rounds" (July 12, 19, 26); an additional round on Aug. 2; the quarter finals on Aug. 9 (for the top 10); the semi-finals on Aug. 16 (for the top 5) and two rounds of finals on Aug. 23 and 30 when a winner and two runner-ups are chosen.


Last year's grand-prize winner, Liz Lark Brown, will perform on the final night. The contest's music director is Nate Buccieri, who will be assisted by Tracy Stark and Bill Zeffiro.

"The career-boosting 'MetroStar' encourages singers across a spectrum of styles and from any age bracket to present well-rounded stage performances in which creativity, innovation and authenticity are prized over vocal pyrotechnics," according to press notes.

The Metropolitan Room is located at 34 West 22nd Street. For reservations call (212) 206-0440. For more information visit metropolitanroom.com.