James Lent News

The 2014 season continues this weekend after its launch last Sunday, January 5th, in North Hollywood, CA. at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal.

LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 sings in the New Year beginning Sunday, January 5 at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, has set Sunday, December 15, 2013 as auditions for the 8th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star®, it was announced today by Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling & Associates in Los Angeles, CA. "Our annual auditions in search of 10 men and 10 women between within the ages of 18 and 28, is highly anticipated by the hierarchy of those in the business of presenting Los Angeles Broadway musical theatre. We couldn't be more grateful to our professional colleagues and select corporate entities for their consistent support of Stage Star since its inception eight years ago."

On Sunday, October 27 Charlotte Mary Wen, winner of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013, made her long awaited cabaret debut at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal with Time to Take a Breath directed by Peter Welkin and with musical direction by Dr. James Lent. Petite, pretty and ultra confidant, the terrific singer truly soared, leaving past anxieties far behind her.

On September 15th, 1 host, 12 singers, 2 musical directors, 1 comedian, and a packed house of friends and invited guests celebrated Michael Sterling's birthday at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. The night, appropriately titled A Sterling Affair, was a sparkling tribute to the man whose name has come to be synonymous with Los Angeles cabaret.

BWW TV's Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group were on hand to produce exclusive television coverage for Broadway World at the Finale of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013 which broke all previous years attendance records during its six week run at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in the NoHo Arts district of North Hollywood, CA January 6 through February 10. Check out the video below!

Gigi Bermingham will star as internationally renowned opera diva Maria Callas when International City Theatre (ICT) presents Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class. Todd Nielsen directs a four-week run beginning March 22 at ICT, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for tonight, March 20 and 21.

Gigi Bermingham will star as internationally renowned opera diva Maria Callas when International City Theatre (ICT) presents Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class. Todd Nielsen directs a four-week run beginning March 22 at ICT, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Two low-priced previews are set for March 20 and 21.

On Sunday, February 10 LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013 came to a thrilling conclusion atSterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Sadly, one contestant, Matthew Bohrer, was stranded at Logan Airport, Boston due to the East coast blizzard of the past several days. Host Michael Sterling contacted Bohrer by cell at the top of the show, and what followed was a bittersweet exchange. Bohrer expressed his happiness to have been part of the competition for five weeks, and his sorrow for not being able to be there for the finale, as he wished his fellow contestants all the best of luck. His points for the preceding weeks were still counted in the final tally.

The Only Musical Theatre Competition of its Kind on the West Coast. Don' t miss your chance to cast your vote along with a panel of LA's most elite, Creative MusicalTheatre Forces as 20 Contestants compete for the Title of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2013, an Award of $1000 cash, a Professional Theatre Career, and their own Headlining Concert Engagement at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal during 2013.

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal has set Sunday, December 9 as auditions for the 7th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star®, it was announced today by producers Michael Sterling and Tony Monsour of Michael Sterling & Associates in Los Angeles, CA. www.msapr.net. For the second consecutive year - author, actress, concert headliner, and arts philanthropist Barbara Van Orden joins Sterling and Monsour by gifting LA's Next Great Stage Star® with the Barbara Van Orden Grant which provides invaluable assistance to production of the annual competition.

On Sunday, September 23 Chelsea Emma Franko, LA's Next Great Stage Star 2012, debuted her cabaret evening The Girl from Apple Valley to a warmly enthusiastic SRO crowd at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Like most young performers, who present their life. so. far in a 60 minute set - Chelsea amazingly did it in 50 - Franko's was one of the very best I've seen. She's beautiful with a truly great vocal instrument and knows how to rivet her audience with just the right amount of pleasurable banter. She doesn't prolong the unnecessary nor is she excessive in any way. Super talented James Lent served as musical director at the piano, except when Chelsea's uncle Craig A. Meyer accompanied her as she sang his delightful piece 'Fly'.

On Sunday evening March 18 petite, lovely Reba Buhrmade her long awaited cabaret debut at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's with Will He Like Me? A Loves Story. Miss Buhr was one of the top five runners up of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 and is currently the host of Disney 365 on the Disney Channel. She also plays several roles at the Disneyland Resort including Jasmine in Aladdin! A Musical Spectacular.

On Sunday February 12 LA's Next Great Stage Star brought its annual six-week singing competition to a rivetingly pulsating conclusion @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's. Twenty contestants who began on Sunday January 8 performed, and 14 judges then narrowed the group to five finalists. Not an easy task, as this year's contestants were all immensely talented vocalists who gave their all to every single performance! Once the five finalists were announced, each performed one more time in order for the judges to pick a winner. Lovely Chelsea Emma Franko from Apple Valley took the top prize. In second place is Carrie St. Louis. Tyson Pyles and David Michael Laffey tied for third place, and in fourth, sweet, petite Justine Huxley. Audience had assigned points to the contestants for the first five weeks and the judges weighted these results as part of the final voting.

Alex Boling ("Reddy or Not" [LA Premiere], ABC's "Suburgatory') is making a return engagement to The Other Side in Silverlake this Sunday, February 12 at 6:30 PM with a new Valentine's Day-inspired cabaret show.

Alex Boling ('Reddy or Not' LA Premiere , ABC's 'Suburgatory') is making a return engagement to The Other Side in Silverlake this Sunday, February 12 at 6:30 PM with a new Valentine's Day-inspired cabaret show.

On February 15 at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills for one night only renowned Musical Theatre of Los Angeles will present a benefit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: In Concert! Starring as Joseph will be Broadway's David Burnham, who appeared in the national tour as Joseph, and special guest TV and film star Lorenzo Lamas will make a rare stage appearance as Pharoah. They will be backed by a full-size Broadway orchestra and a 60 member youth choir. Joseph will be directed by Mark Rozzano with musical direction by Greg Haake, choreography and musical staging by Jim Borstelmann and Colette Brandenburg. James Lent serves as assistant musical director and Jonas Sills as youth vocal director and associate producer.

On Sunday January 15 producers Michael Sterling and Tony Monsour presented the second week of the annual six-week competition LA's Next Great Stage Star 2012, now in its sixth knockout year. Twenty very talented contestants are competing for the title which will be announced at the end of the finale on Sunday February 12.

LA's Next Great Stage Star™ 2012 bows to the New Year beginning Sunday, January 8th at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in Los Angeles.