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| BroadwayWorld presents... | ||
NEXT ON STAGE |
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| Season 4 | ||
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| Hosted by: Ben Cameron |
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Lesli Margherita Kyle Taylor Parker |
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Kate Rockwell Michael James Scott |
Follow Us:
In Spring 2020, when Broadway was dark and student productions across the country were being canceled due to the COVID pandemic, BroadwayWorld saw an opportunity to shine a spotlight on young performers across the country who were otherwise sidelined. Next On Stage was born out of the hope of providing a platform for some of the outstanding talent that will grace the Broadway stages of the future. Since its launch, the series has enjoyed three seasons and showcased the voices of hundreds of young people across the country. Now, after a two-year hiatus, we're inviting high school and college-aged students to enter by submitting videos of themselves performing a song from the musical theatre canon.
Meet the Finalists
High School
Braxton Offor from Hermitage High School
Singing Temporarily Lost from The Bridges of Madison County
Mackenzie Crawford from Sioux City East High School
Singing Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen
Jeffery Walker III from St. Petersburg
Singing At the Fountain from Sweet Smell of Success
College
Amaya Hardin from Ouachita Baptist University
Singing No Good Deed from Wicked
Colin O’Connor from New York University
Singing Can You Hear Me? from New York, New York
Sara Elder
Singing Without a Believer from Waitress (Archive song)
What You Missed Last Week:
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Judges
With extensive credits on Broadway and in film and television, AMDA alumna J. Elaine Marcos is known for her brilliant comedic timing and scene-stealing roles. She was recently seen in the new Maltby/Shire Musical Waterfall in Bangkok, Thailand. In Los Angeles, J. Elaine appeared in DRAG: the Musical with Alaska, Nick Adams and Joey McIntyre. This consummate artist and triple-threat got her professional start shortly after graduating from AMDA, when she starred in the national tour of A Chorus Line as Connie Wong, and revisited the iconic show at New York City Center as Valerie Clark. On Broadway, J. Elaine made her debut in Miss Saigon, then continued to work in the revivals of Flower Drum Song, Wonderful Town, Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line, and as Lily St. Regis in Annie. J. Elaine originated the roles of Imelda Marcos in The Wedding Singer and the unforgettable Cynthia in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, for which she earned an Astaire Award nomination for Excellence in Dance. Her return to Broadway in Gettin’ the Band Back Together earned her Broadway’s iconic Legacy Robe.
Lesli Margherita is an Olivier Award winner for her West End debut as Inez in ZORRO THE MUSICAL. Lesli made her Broadway debut originating the role of Mrs. Wormwood in MATILDA THE MUSICAL. After over 1000 performances, she bid farewell to the Broadway company of Matilda and crossed the street to The Helen Hayes to star as the diva Mona Kent in Broadway's DAMES AT SEA. Lesli later returned to MATILDA to close out its Broadway run. Off-Broadway, Lesli starred as Princess in EMOJILAND and Cindy Lou Who in the one woman tour-de-force WHO'S HOLIDAY.
Kyle Taylor Parker has worked on Broadway in the original casts of Kinky Boots and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His other theatre credits include: The off Broadway revival of Smokey Joe's Cafe, Finnian's Rainbow, regional productions of Dreamgirls, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert on NBC. Combining his love of show tunes and soul music on his solo recording debut, Kyle's Broadway Soul, Vol. 1 arrived on Broadway Records in 2019, followed by Broadway Soul, Vol. 2 in 2021.
Courtney Reed is best known for originating the role of ‘Princess Jasmine’ in Disney's smash Broadway hit Aladdin, in which she received a Grammy Nomination. You can see her currently as Moulin Rouge the Musical’s Sparkling Diamond on Broadway for which she originated the role on the first national tour. Pre- pandemic she was seen in Lauren Yee’s award winning play Cambodian Rock Band at The Signature Theatre. She also had the honor of being a part of the closing company of the Tony Award Winning Musical In The Heights, in which she played ‘Carla,’ u/s ‘Nina’ and ‘Vanessa.’ She made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! Favorite Regional: ‘Andrea’ in Once on This Island at Papermill Playhouse directed by Thomas Kail. Television: Liza on Demand, Search Party, The Affair, Law & Order: SVU, White Collar, NYC 22, and CSI: NY. Courtney is also a proud co-producer of Disney Princess the Concert that can be seen all over the world.
Kate Rockwell starred as the original Karen Smith in Mean Girls: The Musical at the August Wilson Theater, which garnered her a Drama Desk Nomination. A natural brunette, her previous Broadway dumb blondes include originating the role of Skylar in Bring It On: The Musical, as well as roles in Rock of Ages, Hair, and Legally Blonde. She’s been seen recently as Anna on Amazon Prime’s Harlem and Nina Bennett on Fox’s Almost Family, and on Blue Bloods, High Maintenance, Deadbeat, and Sex and the City: the Movie. Some select regional theater highlights include Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (Muny), Carrie Piperidge in Carousel (Arena Stages), Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Muny), and Mabel Normand in the world premiere of Hollywood (La Jolla Playhouse). Rockwell released her debut solo album, Back To My Roots, in 2018 on Broadway Records, and has performed her solo concert by the same name at Birdland Jazz Club, City Winery, and other venues in NYC. She is a WSET-certified wine lover and mama to her two-legged and a four legged kids.
Michael James Scott is best known for and is currently the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway. He’s also played the role Internationally in London, the North American Tour and originating it in the Australian Production for which he won the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He’s also known for originating the role of the Minstrel on Broadway in Something Rotten and originating Dr. Gotswana (aka The Maggots Guy) in the Tony-winning phenomenon The Book of Mormon. Other Broadway credits include Mamma Mia, Tarzan, All Shook Up,The Pirate Queen, Elf, and Hair. Michael is the voice of the Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship The Wish national commercial campaign where you can hear his rendition of the iconic song A Dream is A Wish. He was a member of the critically acclaimed singing group The Broadway Boys and Grammy-nominated Broadway Inspirational Voices and he can be heard on many original Broadway cast albums, multiple studio recordings, The Broadway Boy's album Lullaby of Broadway and his wildly successful Holiday album A Fierce Christmas.
The Prizes:
About BroadwayWorld:
Wisdom Digital Media Publishing launched in 2001 and its flagship site, BroadwayWorld.com, in 2003. BroadwayWorld is the largest theatre site on the internet, covering Broadway, the West End and beyond to 100 US cities, 45 countries and in 12 languages worldwide. With over six million monthly visitors, BroadwayWorld delivers complete up-to-the-minute Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theatre news, in-depth interviews, extraordinary photo coverage, entertaining video features, lively message boards, ticket discounts, reviews, and more.
As an industry leader in all things live entertainment, the site's coverage includes TV, film, streaming, movies, music, concerts, opera, dance, classical music and more with exclusive features for industry professionals and ticket-buyers.
In 2020, the site unveiled a major redesign, and launched numerous new businesses including the Theatre Shop, Online Education, BroadwayWorld Research, Industry Pro and more. During the Broadway shutdown, the site continued to light a path with several new features including Next on Stage, Living Room Concerts, broadcasting Stars in the House, Backstage Live with Richard Ridge, brainteasers & more reaching record site traffic, supporting charities and spotlighting artists and organizations.
In May of 2023, the site celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a massive redesign and a star-studded celebration at Sony Hall, benefitting our longtime friends and collaborators at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS - hosted by Chita Rivera and Richard Ridge and featuring performances by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning stars of stage and screen. At the event, New York City's Mayor, Eric Adams officially proclaimed May 21, 2023 as BroadwayWorld Day.
About AMDA:
For 60 years, AMDA College of the Performing Arts has been recognized throughout the industry for its rich history and tradition of launching some of the most successful careers in theatre, film, television, and new media. With campuses in Los Angeles and New York City, AMDA provides unparalleled education and training for the aspiring actor, dancer, singer, versatile artist, and beyond. Learn more at https://www.amda.edu.
Partners:
54 Below54 Below, a recipient of the 2022 TONY AWARDS Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve the music of Broadway and expand the art of the cabaret while growing opportunities for diverse communities of emerging and established artists and providing unparalleled audience experiences.
Brooklyn Delicatessen is a fast-casual, grab & go concept on 7th Avenue between 56th & 57th Street in New York City open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Serving hot pastrami, hot corned beef & roasted turkey reubens on a potato bun. As well as classic hot sandwiches on marble rye, Roman-style pizza, chicken soup & more! For breakfast, enjoy our Eggface sandwiches, artisanal egg jars & breakfast pizzas.
Hotel Edison has been a staple of NYC’s Theater District since 1931, when Thomas Edison turned on the lights. The Art Deco hotel’s vibrant energy, spacious accommodations, and notable restaurants & jazz bar provide a one-of-a-kind refuge in the heart of Times Square.
Broadway Licensing GlobalThe Broadway Licensing Group collection of titles represents an astonishing 38 Tony Awards and 49 Pulitzer Prize-winning works. The company leverages its team's expertise in licensing, theatrical production, theatre education, and content creation to diversify, strengthen, and rapidly expand its portfolio into new sectors and markets. Founded in 2017, Broadway Licensing Group has quickly scaled, and, as of 2022, the company represents 8 of the Top 10 most produced plays in professional theatres, and 9 of the Top 10 most produced plays in High Schools.
HarmonyBerlin, 1927. Six remarkably talented young men form a singing group who become international sensations: The Comedian Harmonists. They sell millions of records, star in major motion pictures, and play the biggest theaters around the world. By 1935, they were never heard from again. What happened? That’s the extraordinary true story of HARMONY.
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