Michelle Kinney Hosts The Karaoke World Championships 3/2-30

Actress/Singer Michelle Kinney has been named host of a series of preliminary competitions for The Karaoke World Championships in New York City. Kinney (Rockers on Broadway, Drift), will host prelims for the world wide competition at Manhattan nightspot The Watering Hole (106 east 19th street). Preliminary competitions began on March 2nd and will continue on March 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 8 pm at the Union Square venue. Contestants will be eliminated each week, with weekly winners being advanced to a finals round at The Watering Hole on April 13th. 1 male and 1 female finalist will advance to a state wide competition. Winners can potentially progress to the World Karaoke Championship finals in Killarney, Ireland in September. In addition, regional winners will be featured on the upcoming ABC television series "America's Karaoke Challenge".

Week two of the preliminaries will be judged by Christian Campbell (Reefer Madness, Trick, HBO's Big Love) and Miss NY Claire Buffie who is the the first woman in the history of Miss America with an LGBT Equality Platform.
A panel of theater, television and pop culture personalities are slated to judge the preliminary competitions including Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Les Miserables), Ben Cameron (Wicked, Aida), Tracy McDowell (Rent), Christian Campbell (Trick, Big Love, Reefer Madness), Greg Reuter (Chicago, The Producers), Claire Buffie (Miss New York '11), Jeremy Schonfeld (Drift, 37 Notebooks), Ben Curtis ("The Dell Guy") and Ryan Holmes (Blaziny Radio).

Amateur (non contracted) singers are encouraged to register at Wateringholekaraoke@gmail.com. Registrants must also register at www.kwcusa.net/invsinger.html