The NYMF-sponsored event, hosted by Annie star Andrea McArdle, features Rent's Anthony Rapp, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee's Jose Llana and Lennon's Mandy Gonzales as celebrity judges.

Rapp, Llana and Gonzalez will offer critique during the competition where weekly eliminations, based on audience text-message voting, narrow down the contestants. The contestants proceeding to the third, and final competition, will be announced at the conclusion of the Sept. 28 competition. The winner of Broadway Idol will earn a solo concert produced and presented at Ars Nova.

The Sept. 28 concert, entitled "Broadway Rocks," features the six remaining contestants performing material solely from the Broadway rock/pop catalogue. The contestants who will belt out the best of Broadway rock are DeMond B. Nason, Auri Marcus, Stephanie Pitsiladis, George Psomas, Isabel Santiago and Alysha Umphress.

Prior to the 11 PM competition, Joe Iconis, the rocker who penned Plastic! The Musical and The Black Suits, will perform a set at 10 PM.

Fans packed Stitch lounge last week for the first competition, featuring guest judges Marc Shaiman and Donna Lynne Champlin, who were treated to Funny Girl's "Coronet Man"; a male gospel twist on "Hold On" from The Secret Garden; an appearance from Little Edie with "Around the World" from Grey Gardens; and pop favorites from Wicked and Brooklyn. The final competition concert on Oct. 5 is "Star to Be," which will feature the contestants singing two songs — one from pre-Oklahoma! Broadway and another from the post-Hair Broadway catalogue.

The Broadway Idol Competition takes place at Stitch Bar and Lounge, located in Manhattan at 247 West 37th Street. Admission is $10, which includes one drink ticket.

For further information visit www.NYMF.org.