Produced by the New York Musical Theatre Festival in association with New World Stages, with support from the ASCAP Foundation's Irving Caesar Trust, the talent competition seeks to find "the newest musical theatre star." The winner will receive a special solo concert presented by NYMF as part of its 2015 Festival.
According to NYMF, "A panel of industry professionals will preside over two days of auditions to select 20 entrants to take part in the competition. Ten contestants will perform at each of two competition heats, with four performers selected from each evening to move on to the Grand Finale. Two finalists from each night will be selected by a panel of industry judges, with two additional finalists chosen from live audience votes and from online votes at NYMF.org."
The panel of judges includes NYMF resident casting director Michael Cassara, Tony winner Michael Cerveris, Tony nominee Jordan, Drama Desk-nominated director Scott Schwartz and Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, among others. In addition to casting votes, the judging panel will offer live performance advice to the contestants.
NYMF will again partner with the ASCAP Foundation to present Singers & Songwriters: A NYMF/ASCAP Concert Event, featuring the eight NNBS finalists performing the works of prolific musical theatre composers. Composers appearing at the concert will include Andrew Lippa, Adam Gwon, Ryan Scott Oliver, Anna Jacobs, John Bucchino, Michael Patrick Walker and Laurence O'Keefe. The concert will be hosted by Michael John LaChiusa.
All performances will take place at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street). The schedule follows: NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation 2014: Heat 1
Dec. 5 at 11 PM - doors open at 10:30 PM ($10 in advance, $15 at the door)
NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation 2014: Heat 2
Dec. 6 at 11 PM - doors open at 10:30 PM ($10 in advance, $15 at the door)
Singers & Songwriters: A NYMF/ASCAP Concert Event
Dec. 17 at 7 PM ($20)
NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation 2014: Grand Finale
Dec. 19 at 11 PM - doors open at 10:30 PM ($10 in advance, $15 at the door)
After auditions, the contestants for Heat 1 are Jillian Gottlieb, Mara Herman, Paul Ianniello, Hannah Kiem, Chris Pappas, Jose Ramos, Barry Shafrin, Darius Wright, Gretchen Wylder and Rachel Zatcoff. The contestants for Heat 2 are Kathryn Allison, Bentley Black, Melanie Burg, Nicholas Carroll, Corey Desjardins, Janet Dunn, Stefanie Izzo, David LaMarr, Magnus Tonning Riise and Chloe Tucker.
For more information, visit NYMF.org.
