'Early Show' Contest Offers Students Chance for Bway Debut

CBS News' "The Early Show" is giving ten drama students a chance to make their Broadway dream come true in a six-day series, "My Broadway Debut."

"The Early Show" is teaming up with The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. for a theatrical competition, which will be broadcast on "The Early Show," on Monday, May 29 – Monday, June 5 (7:00-9:00 AM/ET).

CBS News producers and Broadway casting agent, Bernie Telsey (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Rent, Hairspray, The Wedding Singer) have selected ten finalists from auditions held at Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois), Wagner College (Staten Island, NY), University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), University of Arizona (Tucson) and Florida State University (Tallahassee, Florida).

The ten finalists, five male/female pairs and one each day for five days, will perform a number from one of the shows featured during the week -- The Wedding Singer, Hairspray, Rent, Avenue Q, Chicago and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. A performer from each of the Broadway shows will be on hand each day to introduce the finalists.

Following is a list of the ten finalists:

Justin Bowen - Florida State University – Hometown: Lynchburg, Va.
Cortney Wolfson – University of Michigan – Hometown: Monticello, Ind.
Kate FitzGibbons – University of Arizona - Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Sean Carroll – Northwestern University – Hometown: Sugar Land, Tex.
Kyle Harris – University of Arizona – Hometown: Irvine, Calif.
Katherine Palardy – Northwestern University – Hometown: Beverly, Mass.
Amanda Snarski – Wagner College – Hometown: Upper Darby, Penn.
Andrew Arrington – University of Michigan- Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Junior Mendez – Florida State University- Hometown: Weston, Fla.
Brianna Horne – Wagner College – Hometown: Magnolia, N.J.

Beginning Friday, June 2, viewers can log on to CBSNews.com to vote for their favorite male and female finalist. The winning pair will return to "The Early Show" on Monday, June 5 for a final performance and to be awarded a walk-on role in one of the featured musicals.

The series will also feature an eBay auction of memorabilia from participating musicals to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the American theatre community's not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization.

"The Early Show" is broadcast weekdays (7:00-9:00 AM/ET) on the CBS Television Network. Michael Bass is the senior executive producer. Nanci Ross is the director of special projects and Joe Long is the producer of the series.

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., created in 1930 is the official trade association for the commercial theatre industry. The League's 500-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in 140 + North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to almost 30 million people in New York and across the US and Canada.

Visit www.livebroadway.com for more information on the League of American Theatres and Producers.

Need more Broadway Theatre News in your life? Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...