Vocalist sought for LA's Next Great Stage Star competition

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, LA’s most critically acclaimed supper club dedicated to presenting the best of Broadway stars, Musical Theatre performers and Nightclub artists on a weekly basis, is seeking 18 amateur and/or professional "legit" singers between 16 and 35 years of age to compete for the title of LA's Next Great Stage Star 2009.

Auditions are by appointment only and may be made by calling Michael Sterling & Associates (818) 623-7300, Ext. 2. Auditions will be held between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Sunday, January 4, 2009 at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, 4349 Tujunga Ave. Studio City, CA 91604 (north of Ventura Blvd. and south of Moorpark St.) Please bring a photo and resume and be prepared to sing a ballad and up-tempo song from a Broadway musical; a timeless standard from the Great American Songbook; a classic retro pop song; a "melodic" contemporary pop song; or a "popera" selection (Pop/Opera i.e. Josh Grobin’s material). An accompanist will be provided.

Competition dates are 7:00 – 9:30 pm January 12, 13, 19, 20, 26; and 6:00 to 9:30 pm January 27, 2009.

If selected, a one time entry fee of $120 applies. This third annual, six-night competition will be judged by audience members and a panel of LA’s most distinguished entertainment and theatre industry professionals. Contestants will compete each night of the competition with no eliminations until the final competition on January 27. The competition’s Finale will culminate in the selection of one winner who will receive a cash prize of $1000 and a paid headlining debut at Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s.

Audience members attending the competition will be subject to an "EC" (Economically Correct) cover charge of $10 per person, and a $10 drink and/or food minimum. Attendance is by reservation only and by calling Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s (818) 754-8700.

Auditions To Take Place January 4, 2009

Professional Judges include:
Adam Epstein - Tony Award winning Producer (Hairspray, Cry Baby, The Wedding Singer and more)
Allee Willis - Emmy and Grammy Award-winning composer and Tony Award nominated composer (The Color Purple)
James Blackman III - 2008 Ovation Award winner and Executive Artistic Producer/Director - The Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center
David Galligan – Lifetime Achievement Los Angeles Ovation Award winner
Ms. Rae O’Day - Producing Artistic Director – Performance Riverside at the Landis Performing Arts Center
Lewis Wilkenfeld - 2008 Ovation Award nominee – Artistic Director/Cabrillo Music Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
Peter Matyas – Associate Casting Director – Michael Donovan Casting (Theatre, TV, Film, Commercials)
Daniel Solis – Casting Director – Disney Entertainment Productions
Bob Garrett – Former Broadway star and distinguished vocal coach to the stars
Steven Dry – West Coast Senior Theatre Agent – Schiowitz, Connor, Ankrum, Wolf, Inc.
Victoria Morris – Executive Vice President - Theatre Talent Agent - Kazarian, Spencer, Ruskin & Associates
Dave Secor – Associate Theatre Agent -The Daniel Hoff Agency
Julio Martinez – Theatre Critic - Daily Variety and KPFK Radio (90.7 fm) - Theatre Critic and Host - "Arts in Review" – Pacifica Radio Network

The competition and headlining debut of the winner will be supported by local and national publicity executed by Michael Sterling & Associates of Los Angeles.

"…Stage Star" winners Merissa Haddad (2007) and Jantre Haskin (2008) were immediately signed by top theatrical agents in Los Angeles; had sold-out debut engagements at Sterling's Upstairs; and are now enjoying professional careers in the theatre. Ms. Hadadd received her first Broadway contract in October, 2008 and opened December 9, 2008 as "Mary Valli" in the Chicago run of Jersey Boys at the Bank of America Theatre. Ms. Haskin spent the summer co-starring in northern California’s Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts’ annual Theatrefest and is currently starring as "Sylvia" in All Shook Up at the distinguished Sierra Repertorty Theatre in Sonora, California.

STERLING’S UPSTAIRS at Vitello’s is produced by Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling & Associates, the Studio City-based entertainment public relations company. Since 1980, Sterling has represented such stellar clients as Elizabeth Taylor, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton, David Copperfield, Joan Collins, Alan Thicke, David Brenner, Andy Gibb, and Robert Goulet.

Aside from his celebrity clientele, Sterling has represented various national theatre and arena tours, Los Angeles theatre productions, Emmy Award-winning television specials, celebrity books, albums and CD’s. Sterling is also a critically-acclaimed director of musical theatre in Los Angeles, and has produced various theatrical events and productions throughout southern California. On January 7, 2009, Sterling will open Broadway in Concert! at The Canyon, a weekly series of intimate concerts at the legendary Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA (www.canyonclub.net ; www.myspace.com/broadwayinconcertatcanyon)

Tony Monsour of Michael Sterling & Associates serves as Associate Talent Producer. Having been with the company for nine years, he is also a trained actor and singer with an impressive resume in television, film and musical theatre including co-starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

John Peters also serves as Associate Talent Producer was the founding and former Executive Producer of the San Gabriel Valley Music Theatre (2005-2007) at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. He was also Founder and President of Kids Astounding Children’s Theatre between 1993 and 2004; and Theatre Arts Director at Pasadena’s La Salle High School (2000-2002). Since 1976, Mr. Peters was an Educator in the Pasadena Unified School District.

Since its June 9, 2006 opening, Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s has hosted some of the most prominent Broadway and Nightclub performers in Los Angeles. Among them: veteran award-winning Broadway Star Rachel York (www.rachelyork.net ) from City of Angels. Les Miserables, Victor/Victoria, The Scarlet Pimpernel Encore Production, Kiss Me Kate, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - and a popular television and film actress who has guest starred in Billy Bathgate, One Fine Day and a score of television shows including the title role of Lucille Ball in the CBS made for television movie Lucy; Broadway star Kevin Earley (www.kevinearley.com ), co-star of A Tale of Two Cities and Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway and a frequent guest soloist at the Hollywood Bowl; Nita Whitaker (www.nitawhitaker.com ), 13-time undefeated Star Search Champion, musical theatre star and one of legendary pop record producer David Foster’s ‘golden-girl discoveries’); Stepfanie Kramer (www.stepfaniekramer.com ), co-star of the NBC hit series Hunter; Ilene Graff (www.ilenegraff.com ) - multiple Broadway star, Grammy nominee and co-star of the ABC hit series Mr. Belvedere; Broadway star and two-time Grammy nominee Amick Byram (www.amickbyram.com ); Musical Director/Singer/Actor Allen Everman; Broadway stars Mary Gutzi and Bonifacio Deoso; Musical Theatre stars Peter Welkin, Adam Simmons (www. adamsimmons.info ) Scott Dreier (www.scottdrier.com ); Los Angeles Ovation Award nominee Paul Stroili ("Straight Up with a Twist" www.straight-up.com), and 2008 Los Angeles Ovation Award winner for Best Actor in a Musical - Robert Townsend (www.robertandjill.com ).

For additional information on performers at Sterling’s Upstairs, please visit the club’s web site (www.myspace.com/sterlingsupstairs ).