Grand Finalists Announced for NYMF's 2013 NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION

Eight finalists have been chosen to compete in the Grand Finale of the 8th Annual NYMF Next Broadway Sensation competition this Friday, October 11th at 11pm at New World Stages. Over 200 talented hopefuls auditioned for a spot in this year's competition.

The eight finalists for NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation 2013 are: Stewart Alden, Ben Holtzman, Angela Jeffries, Erica Lustig, Celeste Rose,Jacob Watson, Brook Wood and Noah Zachary.

For the second year in a row, the finalists have been asked to take part in a special NYMF / ASCAP Foundation Songwriter Showcase Concert also at New World Stages, to be held on Thursday, October 10th at 7pm. In this special one-night only event, the finalists will work with prominent ASCAP musical theatre composers to prepare and perform one of their songs.

The evening will feature performances by John Bucchino (A Catered Affair), Michael Patrick Walker (Altar Boyz), Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days),Ryan Scott Oliver (35MM), Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen (Tuck Everlasting), Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk (The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown), Michael Kooman & Christopher Dimond (Dani Girl) and Georgia Stitt (This Ordinary Thursday). The evening will be hosted by Broadway Sessions presenter Ben Cameron.

The finalists were chosen from a mix of audience votes, online voting at BroadwayWorld.com, and a panel of industry judges that included composerRyan Scott Oliver (35MM), casting director Michael Cassara, producer/general manager Jamie Cesa, and ASCAP's Director of Musical TheatreMichael Kerker.

Judges at the grand finale will include casting director Daryl Eisenberg, Tony Award winning producer Tom Smedes and Tony Award winning actress Beth Leavel, with resident Musical Director Ryan Cantwell at the keys.

The winner of Next Broadway Sensation gets a solo concert at Broadway's leading Supper Club 54 Below, produced by NYMF and Grammy Award winning Sh-K-Boom Records, as well as performance opportunities throughout the 2014 Festival season.

NYMF'S Next Broadway Sensation is proudly supported by The ASCAP Foundation, New World Stages and Broadwayworld.com

Tickets to all Next Broadway Sensation events are only $10 online or $15 at the door. To buy tickets, please visit http://nymf.org/tickets/nymfs-next-broadway-sensation/

NYMF is the flagship program of The National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Now celebrating its tenth year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience.

For more information, please visit http://www.nymf.org