Auditions for LA's NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR Set for Dec. 9 at Sterling's Upstairs

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal has set Sunday, December 9 as auditions for the 7^th 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.

Interested talent between the ages of 18 and 28 may call Michael Sterling & Associates at 818 623-7300, Ext. 2 to request an audition appointment. Auditions are by appointment only. Appointments will be scheduled between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. at Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal: 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91606. Auditioners must bring a photo and resume and be prepared to sing between 16 and 32 bars of an up-tempo song and a ballad from a classic or contemporary Broadway musical.

Having premiered in late 2006 with its first winner chosen in early 2007, LA’s Next Great Stage Star® is the only known such competition on the west coast and will be presented at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts District. Sterling’s is dedicated to presenting the best of Broadway performers in concert; as well as nightclub artists dedicated to the Great American Songbook. LA’s Next Great Stage Star® 2013 will be presented as a series of six consecutive Sunday matinees opening January 6; with its much anticipated finale to be presented February 10, 2013. Attendance at the competition is by advance reservation only: 818 754-8700.

Patterned after “an audition process”, LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2013 is geared to discovering new talent for the musical theatre stage. As has become the standard, 20 contestants will be selected from auditions to compete for the 2013 title, a $1000 cash award, a headlining engagement at Sterling's Upstairs during the New Year, and other valuable prizes. Contestants selected to compete in the competition are subject to a one time entry fee of $375.

This year's competition will once again be judged by a live audience and an overall panel of nearly 20 of LA musical theatre’s most creative forces. Judges will give a live critique to each contestant at every competition. Audience members and Judges will also vote on vocal and acting ability, stage presence and personality.

Judges for LA’s Next Great Stage Star® 2012 included: Michael Donovan - Michael Donovan Casting - Theatre, Film, Television, Commercials; Daniel Solis - Disney Entertainment; David Elzer - Producer - The Marvelous Wonderettes, Life Could be a Dream; Steven Glaudini - Artistic Producer/Director – Musical Theatre West/Long Beach, CA, Director - Moonlight Amphitheatre, Vista, CA; Robert Marra – Director – A Chorus Line, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – San Diego Music Theatre; Dan Mojica - Associate Director/Choreographer - Disney’s Beauty and The Beast - National and International Tours; Vocal Coach and Broadway singer Dan Callaway – Executive Committee/Musical Theatre Guild of Los Angeles; Creator/Writer/Director Roger Bean – The Marvelous Wonderettes, Life Could be a Dream; Executive Producer T.J. Dawson and Producer Daniel Dawson – 3-D Theatricals/Fullerton, CA; Director Richard Israel – Once Upon a Mattress, Gypsy, Having it All; John LaLonde – Artistic Director Candlelight Pavilion/Claremont, CA; Calvin Remsberg - Vocal Coach and Director - Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd/Musical Theatre West/Long Beach, CA; Producer/Director/Composer/Author Bruce Kimmel of Kritzerland Records; Equity Department Theatre Agents: Jodie Bowman and Jacole Kitchen - Kazarian, Spencer & Associates; Dave Secor - Daniel Hoff Agency; and Steven Dry – Connor, Ankrum & Associates. 1976 Tony Award winner Sammy Williams (Follies/Ahmanson Theatre, A Chorus Line/Broadway) was a special celebrity guest judge at the competition’s Finale.