By Adam Hetrick
26 Aug 2009

Tony nominee Jonathan Groff and Hair cast members Kacie Sheik and Allison Case will serve as guest judges for the New York Musical Theatre Festival's fourth annual Next Broadway Sensation.

Diana DeGarmo, the "American Idol" contestant and current star of Toxic Avenger, will host the first round of performances on Sept. 13. Guest judges for the competition include Groff (Spring Awakening), Sheik and Case, as well as Orfeh (Legally Blonde), composer Paul Scott Goodman (Bright Lights, Big City, Rooms), Bailey Hanks (Legally Blonde) and Noah Cornman of Sh-K-Boom Records.

Eric Louie directs the competition with musical direction by Christopher D. Littlefield. The Next Broadway Sensation competition is presented Sunday evenings through Oct. 4. Doors open at 9 PM.

NYMF will hold open auditions for the competition on Aug. 29 at the Roy Arias Theatre Center. Callbacks will occur the following day. Next Broadway Sensation is open to performers 18 and over with no previous Broadway credits.

The winner receives a solo concert, co-presented by NYMF and Sh-K-Boom Records, as well as a featured track on an upcoming Stage Stars accompaniment album. Previous winners have gone on to land roles in the Broadway revivals of South Pacific and West Side Story.

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