Singers Chosen For MetroStar Talent Challenge, Competition Begins 7/13 At The MET Room

60 solo singers and vocal duos have been chosen to compete in the second annual "MetroStar Talent Challenge," an eight-week, jury and audience-voted elimination-round competition that begins on Monday July 13 at 7pm. Produced by the Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, "MetroStar" is open to singers of all ages and backgrounds who have not played a major engagement at The Metropolitan Room. The grand prize-winner (who will be named the night of the contest's finale on August 31) will win a fully produced, prime time booking at the Metropolitan Room and a professionally produced live recording of this upcoming show. "MetroStar's" career-boosting package of prizes and professional encouragements is worth over $15,000. As it did last year, the club will engage several well-known professionals and artists to collaborate with the winners.

The multi-award winning vocalist Lennie Watts returns as host of the contest. The jury chairman is critic Roy Sander, who serves as the contest's permanent member. For the contest's three trial rounds - July 13, 20, and 27 - Sander will be joined by the award-winning vocalist Klea Blackhurst. In subsequent weeks, a rotating roster of jurists will help whittle down the contestants to 18 on August 3; ten on August 10 (the quarter finals), and then to five on August 17 (the semi finals). The five finalists will go head to head in two final rounds on August 24 and August 31. Scheduled to serve as judges are the cabaret and jazz entertainers Allan Ha rris, Baby Jane Dexter, Julie Reyburn, Eric Michael Gillett, Ricky Ritzel, Marni Nixon, Jay Rogers, Steven Lutvak and Mary Foster Conklin, and the media personalities David Kenney, Bill Boggs and Valerie Smaldone.

Among the performers on the final night will be last year's grand prize winner Anne Steele, whose highly praised show "Strings Attached" premiered in February and was reprised in March. Playing for the singers on a rotating basis throughout the contest are the popular music directors Nate Buccieri and Tracy Stark. As the contest progresses to the higher rounds, singers will be challenged to present their own original versions of the same song (The Common song is not known in advance) and to prepare material in a style chosen by the jury (also unknown to the singers in advance).

"MetroStar" encourages singers across a spectrum of styles and from any age bracket to present well-rounded stage performances in which creativity, innovation and authenticity are prized over vocal pyrotechnics.

For all the latest "MetroStar Talent Challenge" information, consult the club's Web site at www.metropolitanroom.com The shows, on eight consecutive Mondays, are all at 7pm. The cover charge for all shows is $20, with a two-drink minimum. Rated "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, the Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, celebrated its third anniversary in May. For reservations call 212/206-0440.