MetroStar Extends 2015 Submissions Deadline

The 2015 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" is extending its deadline for applications to July 4 and adding new mentoring to help competitors up their games during the 7-week contest. The eighth annual edition of the summer tradition runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 6 through August 17. All contestants must certify that they will be available to compete throughout the jury-and audience-voted, elimination-round competition.

Open to solo singers and vocal duos of all ages, backgrounds and styles who have not played a major engagement at the Metropolitan Room (defined as a 4-show prime-time run of the same show in a fixed period), MetroStar challenges singers to raise their standards and push themselves artistically. This year, top director Barry Kleinbort will serve as MetroStar's resident mentor, available to the 10 quarterfinalists to offer performance-improving pointers. The contest's winner will be mentored by veteran broadcaster Bill Boggs on effective on-camera interview techniques.

This year's guest judges, who join the permanent jury after the contest's three weeks of trials, include Adrian Bailey, Brenda Braxton, Linda Amiel Burns, Jeff Harnar, Sharon McNight, Carolyn Montgomery-Forant, Marissa Mulder, Peter Napolitano, David Noh, Billie Roe, Elaine St. George, Steve Schonberg, Tom Toce, Aaron Weinstein, Robert Windeler, and Mark Dundas Wood.

Since it began in 2008, MetroStar has launched and redefined the careers of several standouts in cabaret and jazz. Past winners, in chronological order have included Anne Steele, Liz Lark Brown, T. Oliver Reid, Marissa Mulder, Billie Roe, and Lauren Stanford. Kristoffer Lowe, the 2014 MetroStar, premieres his new show at the Metropolitan Room on Tuesday September 22 at 7pm.

For the second year in a row, the contest's permanent judges include the MAC, Nightlife, and Bistro award-winning singer and director Gretchen Reinhagen and Joseph Macchia (the Metropolitan Room's booking manager and prolific producer of cabaret shows). Returning as jury chairman is the cabaret journalist Roy Sander, who has performed this role since the contest's inception.

Tom Gamblin returns for his fifth season as the contest's host and, once again MetroStar's resident music director is Tracy Stark. The contest's co-producers are Met Room owner Bernie Furshpan, Macchia, Gamblin, and Beck Lee.

MetroStar offers a career-boosting package of prizes and professional encouragements, including a Met Room-produced primetime engagement and, this year for the first time, a six-camera demo that chronicles the odyssey of the winner from start to finish. Bill Boggs -- who has interviewed such greats as Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis, James Brown, Little Richard, Dionne Warwick, Jack Jones, and, as a correspondent for the PBS series My Generation has interviewed Michael Feinstein, Judy Collins, and Carly Simon and Barry Manilow -- will interview the winner the night of the finale for Billboggstv on YouTube, and again, prior to the winner's primetime run at the Met Room.

To apply, performers must submit either a CD (by mail or special delivery), or an mp3 recording and/or link if applying by e-mail. For details visit www.metropolitanroom.com

The 2015 MetroStar Talent Challenge takes place on seven consecutive Mondays from July 6 to August 17. All shows are all at 7pm; the cover charge for all shows is $20, with a two-drink minimum. The Nightlife, MAC 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 or to order online visit www.metropolitanroom.com.

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