Courtney Reed, Jelani Remy, Jenna Leigh Green & Claire Buffie Will Judge This Week's Rising Star Competition

RISE BAR is seeking its next RISING STAR! Hosted by Broadway's Marty Thomas (Xanadu, The Secret Garden, Wicked), the RISING STAR competition begins Sunday March 6! The contestants will be competing in an 8 week elimination style contest for a $1000 cash prize and paid bookings at RISE Bar with their respective solo show. In addition to its cash and prize package, RISING STAR is offering networking opportunities with guest celebrity judges, fantastic exposure and valuable live stage experience.

Tonight the top 4 compete in three themed categories. They will each perform a song by Canadian pop queen, Celine Dion. They will also reprise a song chosen by judges from past weeks of competition. Lastly, they were paired up for duets to challenge their creativity and teamwork efforts! . Tonight's judges include star of Broadway's ALADDIN Courtney Reed, star of Broadway's THE LION KING Jelani Remy, star of WICKED and currently THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Jenna Leigh Green and Miss New York 2010/Branding Consultant Claire Buffie.

Courtney Reed can currently be seen playing Princess Jasmine in Disney's latest broadway hit Aladdin, directed by Casey Nicholaw. She also had the honor of being a part of the closing cast of the Tony Award Winning Musical In The Heights, in which she played Carla, u/s Nina & 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: NYC 22, CSI NY, WHITE COLLAR, THE AFFAIR, LAW &ORDER SVU and the upcoming SEARCH PARTY.
Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat: @RhodesReed

Jelani Remy is currently starring on Broadway in The Lion King as Simba. Past shows include Disney High School Musical andHigh School Musical 2, Parade, Cabaret, and Smokey Joes Cafe. As a director, teacher, and choreographer, Jelani is always putting up new works, workshops and concerts all over the country!
IG: itsjelaniremy
twitter: @jelaniremy
www.jelaniremy.com

Claire Buffie was named Miss New York 2010. She was the first Miss America finalist to champion LGBT rights as her platform and she brought home the Americas choice award, as well as top 12 finalist honors. Along with Mallory Hagan (Miss America 2013) she is half of the founding force behind DEFINE, a branding and creative image consulting firm. Claire is a renown photographer and rights activist. Driven by progress and achievement, Claire loves being in New York City to promote individuals, entertainment and social causes.
www.define-mmm.com
www.clairebuffiephotography.com
@clairebuff

Jenna Leigh Green might be best known for her portrayal of Libby on the 90s sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She also starred on Broadway in WICKED, in the world premier of BARE and is currently featured off Broadway in THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES. She was featured in the 2010 film, YOU AGAIN alongside Betty White, Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kristen Chenoweth, Sigourney Weaver and more. Her many TV credits include, THE GHOST WHISPERER, BONES, DHARMA AND GREG, ER, COLD CASE and many more.
IG @jennaleighgreen
Twitter @jemma22

The top 12 finalists were chosen from over 50 applicants, by a panel of industry judges, during a live audition. Our top 12 finalists included, Katia Malarsky, Dominic Crossey, Michael Muenchow, Sharisse Fransisco, Desiree Rodriguez, Gabriel Violett, Carla Bordonara, Eric Jetner, Amanda Enriquez, Terrance Johnson, Diana Huey and James Avance.

Our top 4 competing this week include Katia Malarsky, Carla Bordonada, Amanda Enriquez and Dominic Crossey. Tonight a top 3 will be chosen to compete in our finale on Sunday, May 8.

Judges from the first four weeks of competition included Alysha Umphress (ON THE TOWN), Emily McNamara (AWESOME 80s PROM), Composer Jeff Thomson (TRAILS THE MUSICAL), Composer Jonathan Reid Gealt (FORWARD), Michelle Dowdy (HAIRSPRAY) and Singer/Arranger/Vocal Coach Chris Dilley (POWER BREATHING FOR SINGERS, BIV), Michael Longoria (JERSEY BOYS, HAIRSPRAY, THE MIDTOWN MEN), Natalie Weiss (EVERYDAY RAPTURE, WICKED, BREAKING DOWN THE RIFFS), Nick Adams (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, GUYS AND DOLLS, CHICAGO) Paul Caanan (KINKY BOOTS, LEGALLY BLONDE, LA CAGE AUX FAUX), Ryann Redmond (IF/THEN, BRING IT ON), Kate Rockwell (BRING IT ON, ROCK OF AGES, LEGALLY BLONDE, HAIR) Jacob Yandura (THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAAN, WRINGER), Douglas Lyons (BEAUTIFUL, THE BOOK OF MORMON), Ari Gold (pop star/songwriter) Laura Berquist (ALLEGIANCE), Marissa Rosen (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT), Ben Cameron (BROADWAY SESSIONS, WICKED, FOOTLOOSE, AIDA), Christine Dwyer (RENT, WICKED), Matt Deangelis (ONCE, AMERICAN IDIOT, HAIR), Kate Lumpkin (FOX EAST COAST CASTING) and BLEEP Magazine creator and editor Ryan Brinson.

Other industry pros scheduled to appear as judges throughout the competition include Frankie James Grande, (STYLE CODE LIVE), Mallory Hagan (MISS AMERICA 2013), plus more special appearances will be announced soon.

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