Do you have what it takes to be LA’s Next Great Stage Star? If so, Stage Star 2017 is looking for you! Presented by Princess Cruises, the competition will hold auditions for 10 men and 10 women between the ages of 18 – 32 this Saturday, December 10th at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. You must make an appointment in advance by contacting Executive Producer, Michael Sterling, at 818-623-7300. An accompanist will be provided and attendees should be prepared to sing one up-tempo song and one ballad, both from Broadway musicals. The Colony Theatre is located at the Burbank Town Center, 555 N 3rd Street in Burbank, CA 91502.
This is the competition’s 11th consecutive year and offers a Grand Prize of $2500, professional theatrical representation, and other valuable prizes. Sixteen former Stage Star contestants have already made their Broadway and/or Off-Broadway debuts; while another 80+ are enjoying full time careers in musical theatre throughout the country and abroad. This is a great way to launch your career.
The critically acclaimed competition will premiere January 8th and is highly anticipated by those who present Broadway musical theatre in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California.
For her 6th year, actress, concert headliner, author, businesswoman, and arts philanthropist Barbara Van Orden joins Sterling as co-executive producer by gifting LA’s Next Great Stage Star® with the Barbara Van Orden Grant which provides invaluable financial assistance for production of the annual competition.
“Barbara is part of a rare breed of philanthropists whose passion for live performance and commitment to young hopefuls who dream about having a professional career in the arts, is a trait not often found in Los Angeles. We are humbled by her generosity,” said Sterling.
Musical theatre and television performer/writer/eirector/producer Peter Welkinreturns for his 5th year as associate producer. Richard Berent joins the creative team for his first season as musical director. Broadway and Television Performers/Choreographers Joe Giamalva and Susie Ewing return for their 3rd season.
LA’s Next Great Stage Star® will be presented at the Colony Theatre as a series of five Sunday events: January 8, 15, 22, 29, and February 12; with its Grand Finale on February 19. Loosely patterned after “an audition process”, the competition is geared to discovering new talent for the musical theatre stage. In addition to the cash award of $2500, the winner will also receive theatrical agency representation, and other valuable gifts, including a paid headlining engagement at Sterling’s Upstairs at The Federal... LA’s most celebrated intimate concert destination.
Contestants selected from auditions to compete in the competition are subject to a one-time entry fee of $600. All contestants will compete at each competition with no eliminations until the Grand Finale on February 19th. Following the Finale’s competitive performances, the winner and a group of 4 to 5 top finalists will be determined based on cumulative votes.
As a direct result of “...Stage Star...”, more than half of its 200 contestants to date have been cast in top regional musical theatre, Las Vegas Broadway productions, Broadway U.S. National Tours, major cruise line production shows, and network television shows; while 16 have made either their Broadway and/or Off-Broadway debuts. An average of 50% of “all” contestants in each year’s edition of LA’s Next Great Stage Star® are signed by the competition’s musical theatre agent/judges.
The 2017 competition will be judged by a live *audience and an overall nearly two dozen member panel of LA musical theatre’s most dynamic creatives forces. To date, panels have included such entities and individuals as the Center Theatre Group, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, 3-D Theatricals, Cabrillo Music Theatre, Musical Theatre West, Performance Riverside; casting directors Jeremy Rich, Robby Armitage, Michael Donovan, Peter Matyas, Amy Lieberman, Michael Serna, K.C. Gussler; directors Glenn Casale, Roger Castellano, Marco Gomez, Cate Caplin, T.J. Dawson, Michael Matthews, Bruce Kimmel, David Galligan, Joshua Finkel, Daniel Solis, James Mellon, Todd Nielsen, Larry Raben, Calvin Remsberg, Kristin Towers Rowles, and Robert Marra; and theatrical agencies such as Stage 9/DDO, Connor/Ankrum, Across The Board (ATB) Talent, Kazarian/ Meaures/Ruskin & Associates, the Daniel Hoff Agency, and Brady, Brannon & Rich.
Judges will give live post-performance critiques to each contestant during the first five weeks of competition. Judges and *audience members vote on vocal, acting ability, stage presence and personality. (*Audience members vote only during the first five weeks of competition).
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