Produced by NYMF in association with New World Stages, with support from the ASCAP Foundation’s Irving Caesar Trust, this talent competition seeks to find the newest musical theatre star. The winner of the competition will receive a special solo concert presented by NYMF as part of its 2015 Festival.
A panel of industry professionals presided over two days of auditions to select 20 entrants to take part in the competition. Ten contestants performed 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 were be selected by a panel of industry judges, with two additional finalists chosen from live audience votes and from online votes at NYMF.org. Representing RSO were Bentley Black singing “To London” and Kathryn Allison singing “On Monday.”
This year’s judges include NYMF resident casting director Michael Cassara, Tony nominee Michael Cerveris, Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan, Drama Desk nominated director Scott Schwartz, Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, and others still to be announced. In addition to casting votes, the judging panel will offer live performance advice to the contestants.
As a highlight of the competition, NYMF will once again partner with the ASCAP Foundation to present “SINGERS & SONGWRITERS: A NYMF/ASCAP CONCERT EVENT” featuring the elite eight NNBS finalists performing the works of prolific musical theatre composers. Composers appearing at the concert included Andrew Lippa, Adam Gwon, Ryan Scott Oliver, Anna Jacobs, John Bucchino, Michael Patrick Walker and Laurence O’Keefe. The concert was hosted by Michael John LaChiusa.