DADDY LONG LEGS Launches Competition for Young Female Performers

Ken Davenport and Michael Jackowitz, the producers of the new Off-Broadway musical Daddy Long Legs, have announced the "Give A Girl Her Chance" Contest, which will gift an Off-Broadway debut to one talented young woman.

Producer Ken Davenport says, "During my recent podcast interview with Kate Shindle the President of Actors Equity Association, she told me about how it is much harder for young musical theatre actresses to get their first "big break" than it is for men. This made me think about Daddy Long Legs, and how the main character Jerusha, is given her "big break" by a mysterious benefactor. We decided it would be in the spirit of the show to give one talented young woman her Alexander Hamilton-like shot. "

The Grand Prize Winner will receive:

· The opportunity to perform "The Secret of Happiness" at the Davenport Theatre after a performance of Daddy Long Legs

· A Voice Session with Megan McGinnis (Jerusha) and Paul Gordon (Music & Lyrics)

· Round trip transportation to New York City

· One night stay in a hotel in New York City*

*Prize only awarded if winner does not live within 50 miles of New York City

Applicants will submit a video of their performance of "The Secret of Happiness" and the public will then vote on all video entries. The winner will be the video with the most votes!

To enter the Daddy Long Legs Song Contest and view full contest guidelines, visit www.DaddyLongLegsMusical.com/submit. Entries will be accepted starting Tuesday, March 15th and must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on Thursday, March 24th. Voting will begin at http://www.DaddyLongLegsMusical.com/vote on Wednesday, March 30th and voting closes on Wednesday, April 6th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 7th.

The new musical Daddy Long Legs made history on December 10th, 2015, as the first ever Broadway or Off-Broadway performance to be livestreamed free of charge. The livestream featured real-life husband and wife duo Megan McGinnis and Adam Halpin, and was seen by a total of 150,055 people in 135 countries around the world, including viewers from nations as distant and diverse as Tanzania, Jordan and Fiji.

From the Tony Award-winning director of LES MISERABLES comes the intimate new musical Daddy Long Legs. Based on the classic novel which inspired the 1955 movie starring Fred Astaire-a beloved tale in the spirit of Jane Austen, the Brontë Sisters, and "Downton Abbey"-this heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor has charmed audiences of all ages from Los Angeles to London. Critics are cheering: Daddy Long Legs has "echoes of She Loves Me and top-notch performances" and "is one of the most enthralling, entertaining and moving love stories on the American musical theater stage."

Starring Megan McGinnis (Broadway's LES MISERABLES, Side Show, Little Women) and Adam Halpin (Kinky Boots National Tour) and based on the 1912 novel by Jean Webster, Daddy Long Legs features music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon (Sense and Sensibility), book by Tony Award and Olivier Award winner John Caird (LES MISERABLES), and direction by John Caird.

DADDY LONG LEGS tells the extraordinary tale of Jerusha Abbott (McGinnis), the oldest orphan in the John Grier Home. One day, a rich, anonymous benefactor (Halpin) decides to send her to college, but she must write him a letter once a month. Unaware of his identity, she invents a nickname for him: Daddy Long Legs. Through her brilliant and witty letters, Jerusha shares her experiences of college while discovering her own identity and reveling in the wonders of literature, adventure and love. But one key fact eludes her - who is Daddy Long Legs?

DADDY LONG LEGS premiered at the Rubicon Theatre Company in 2009, and has had acclaimed productions throughout the United States as well as international productions in Canada, Tokyo and London's West End. The show was originally produced by a consortium that includes the Rubicon Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and TheatreWorks Palo Alto, The Gem Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, and David Elzer. Megan McGinnis originated the role of Jerusha at the Rubicon Theatre Company and has received the 2010 Los Angeles Ovation Award, an Indy Award (West Coast) and the Acclaim Award (Cincinnati) for her role in Daddy Long Legs.

DADDY LONG LEGS features scenic and costume design by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee David Farley (Sunday in the Park With George), lighting design by Paul Toben (Broadway's The Story Of My Life), sound design by Peter Fitzgerald (Penn & Teller on Broadway), and music direction, arrangements and orchestrations by Brad Haak (An American in Paris). Daddy Long Legs is produced by Michael Jackowitz and Ken Davenport. Additional producers include Hunter Arnold, Peg McFeeley Golden, Tres Rosas, Ben Bailey, David Bryant, Caiola Productions, Carl Daikeler, Jeffery Grove, Marguerite Hoffman and Associate Producer, Kayla Greenspan.

Tickets for Daddy Long Legs are on sale now at www.telecharge.com or by calling Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6222.

To post a comment, you must register and login.