NYC Rising Star Competition Returns for Second Season

After a tremendously successful first season, Rise Bar's talent contest returns! The new summer installment will be on TUESDAY nights!

The RISING STAR competition began Tuesday August 2nd. Singers compete in an 8 week elimination style contest for a $1000 cash prize and a fully produced, paid solo show at Rise. In addition to the cash and prize package, RISING STAR offers networking opportunities with celebrity judges, fantastic exposure, and valuable live stage experience.

Hosted by actress and comic Emily McNamara (NEWSICAL The Musical, Billy On The Street, HBO's Vinyl)

Industry pros scheduled to appear as judges throughout the competition include Choreographer Shea Sullivan, Christine Dwyer (WICKED), Matt DeAngelis (HAIR), Alysha Umphress (ON THE TOWN), Rosalind Brown (FOOTLOOSE), Kat Lumpkin (FOX East Coast Casting), Musical Director Laura Berquist (ALLEGIANCE), Entertainment Magazine editor Ryan Brinson (BLEEP MAGAZINE), Pop Star Ari Gold, Paul Caanan (KINKY BOOTS), Kate Rockwell (BRING IT ON!), Ryann Redmond (IF/THEN), Olivia Lucy Phillip (DISASTER), Nick Adams (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT), Marty Thomas (XANADU) and more.

The top 12 finalists were chosen from over 60 auditionees

Stephanie Berry
ROMAN CAESAR
LINDELL CARTER
EVAN GALLAGHER-FRACE
MELISSA JENNIFER GONZALEZ
GABRIELLE GORMAN
LYON HART
CAROLINE MEMNON
RYAN MURVIN
NATHAN NAPIER
Shauni Ruetz
JASMINE THOMAS

AUG 8th Industry Judges:

Chris Dilley
Chris has spent the last couple years traveling the world with international a cappella sensation VOCA PEOPLE. With the group, he has appeared on several international TV shows, including as a featured guest on France and China's versions of NBC's "The Sing Off".

Chris also created the role of Trampolina with dragapella beautyshop quartet The Kinsey Sicks. In addition to a world tour,they had a Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway run at Studio 54, and an extended run in Las Vegas. He wrote many of the group's vocal arrangements, and appears on five of their CDs and in their two feature films.

Chris is an active performing member of Broadway Inspirational Voices and a private voice teacher at NYU Tisch's musical theater program.

Natalie Weiss
Natalie just completed a run as Candy in the U.S. premiere of the new version of Saturday Night Fever at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse). Last fall, she went on a 6-city European solo concert & teaching tour stopping in London, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Vienna, Warsaw, and Cork. In August 2013, she completed a 2 1/2 year run swinging the national tour of LES MISERABLES. Her Broadway debut was in Everyday Rapture, starring Sherie Rene Scott. She also performed in the ensemble and understudied Elphaba in the 2nd national tour of Wicked. Natalie was an American Idol season 4 semi-finalist, has performed the National Anthem at Cowboys & Shea Stadium, but is most well known for her Youtube videos. She has gained an international following from her performance videos & popular web series, "Breaking Down The Riffs", which have collectively reached over 3 million views.

Mike Cruz
Mike Cruz is a manager at Whole Artist Management. Mike got his start as an agent at Independent Artists Agency. Later, he partnered with Cyd LeVin to re-form Cyd LeVin and Associates. Before WAM he worked as an agent at The Luedke Agency. Cruz appeared as himself on The Next Big Thing for the Oxygen Network.