NYMF's 2013 Next Broadway Sensation Competition to Kick Off 9/19 at New World Stages

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced details for its 2013 NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation Competition (NNBS). The singing competition returns for its eighth year and will take place at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street).

Produced by NYMF in association with BroadwayWorld.com and New World Stages, with support from the ASCAP Foundation's Irving Caesar Trust, this talent competition seeks to find the newest musical theatre star. The winner of the competition will receive a special solo concert, co-presented by NYMF and Grammy Award-winning producer Sh-K-Boom Records, as well as a photographic package courtesy of Seth Walters Photo and Video.

In addition to the program this year, NYMF will also partner with the ASCAP Foundation to present a Showcase Concert featuring all eight NNBS finalists performing the works of prolific musical theatre composers. Following their selection as finalists, each performer will be paired with a composer or composing team with whom they will collaborate to select and prepare a song for the Showcase the following week. Composers appearing at the concert will include John Bucchino, Adam Gwon, Ryan Scott Oliver, Georgia Stitt and Michael Patrick Walker, along with song-writing duos Kait Kerrigan / Brian Lowdermilk and Michael Kooman / Christopher Dimond.

A panel of industry professionals will preside over two days of auditions and will select 20 entrants to take part in the competition. Ten contestants will perform at each of two competition heats, with four performers selected from each evening to move on to the Grand Finale. Two finalists from each night will be selected by a panel of industry judges, with two additional finalists chosen from live audience votes and from online votes at BroadwayWorld.com (where every stage of the competition will also be aired).

This year's judges include casting director Michael Cassara, acclaimed actress Jenn Colella, ASCAP's Director of Musical Theater Michael Kerker, agent Di Glazer and composer Ryan Scott Oliver. In addition to casting votes, the judging panel will offer live performance advice to the contestants. Darren R Cohenserves as musical director for the competition.

The contest schedule is as follows (all events are at New World Stages: 340 West 50th St, New York. Entry for auditionees is via the stage door at 343 West 49th St.):

AUDITIONS (Open Call): Thursday, September 19th at 10am

Auditions are open to singers, aged 18 and over, who have Broadway flair but no previous Broadwaycredits. Previous auditionees and competition entrants are welcome to take part. Potential "BroadwaySensations" should prepare 16 bars from two contrasting songs that best demonstrate their vocal chops. An accompanist will be provided, but aspiring sensations need to provide their own sheet music in the correct key, headshots and resumes.

CALL BACKS: Friday, September 20th, starting at 10am
NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION HEAT 1: Friday, September 27th at 11pm (doors open at 10:30pm)

NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION HEAT 2: Saturday, September 28th at 11pm (doors open at 10:30pm)

NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION/ASCAP Foundation SHOWCASE CONCERT: Thursday, October 10th at 7pm

NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION GRAND FINALE: Friday, October 11th at 11pm (doors open at 10:30

Tickets for all events are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, and can be booked online at www.nymf.org or by calling (212) 352-0255