2013 MetroStar Talent Challenge Announces Top 5 Finalists; Set for 8/19 at the Met Room

After a highly competitive semi-final round of the "MetroStar Talent Challenge" at The Metropolitan Room last night, five finalists were picked to move forward in the 7-week singers' competition. The five finalists, who will go head to head next Monday, August 19, are Stephen Mitchell Brown, Venessa Diaz, Jason Morris, Tony Ponella and Lauren Stanford.

Carefully minding the score were the permanent judges Roy Sander (the jury chairman), Rob Lester, Eric Michael Gillett and Carolyn Montgomery-Forant, who have been on hand since the competition got underway on July 8 with 75 contestants. Last night's visiting judges were the entertainers Lina Koutrakos, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano. Next week's visiting celebrity jurists will be the journalist Michael Musto, the singer Mark Nadler, and the singer and Mabel Mercer Foundation prexy KT Sullivan. The actor-singer Jay Rogers has been the contest's onstage host. MetroStar combines audience voting with jury votes during the contest, of which this is the sixth annual edition.

A career-boosting prize package worth over $10,000 will be awarded to the competition's grand prize-winner and two runner-ups on Monday August 19. As part of their prize the MetroStar winner will headline a week-long, prime-time engagement at the club, and receive a multi-track "Live at The Metropolitan Room" recording of the new show. The runner-ups will open for the winner and receive demo recordings of their appearances. Past winners have includedAnne Steele, Liz Lark Brown, T. Oliver Reid, Marissa Mulder, and the current MetroStar Billie Roe.

Open to singers of all ages, styles and backgrounds who have not played a major engagement at The Metropolitan Room, "MetroStar" encourages performers 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 cover charge is $20, with a two-drink minimum. The Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, has been keeping kids off the streets and adults from spending too much time watching television since 2006. For reservations call 212/206-0440.

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