Mara Wilson and Jenny Jaffe Co-Host NYU's UltraViolet Live 2014 Tonight

ULTRAVIOLET LIVE [UVL] is a New York University tradition showcasing the best of NYU student talent. Preliminary rounds are hosted across the university's campuses in New York, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi and the best 15 acts compete live at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. UVL, sponsored by the Inter-Residence Hall Council [IRHC] and Tisch Alumni Relations, is now in its eleventh year.

UVL 2014 promises to deliver with amazing talent. The competing acts range from singer/songwriters, bands, a comedian, pianists, dance crews, a Sichuan opera face changer and a Tony nominated tap dancer. Winners will be selected by the judges in three categories including Best Solo Act, Best Group Act and Best Variety Act. An Audience Choice winner will be selected based on audience text votes and the UVL Grand Prize Winner will be awarded $1,000 and other prizes.

NYU alumnae Mara Wilson and Jenny Jaffe will co-host this year's UVL. Wilson is a writer, playwright and actress. She is well known for her starring roles in feature films Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th Street. Jaffe is a writer and comedian well known for her work with CollegeHumor and MTV. Four industry judges will join this year's UVL. Marc Juris is currently President and General Manager of WEtv. Juris has a long career in network management and served in senior roles at truTV, AMC Networks and was president of music network FUSE. Actor and singer Susan Blackwell has been in numerous television and film projects. She is widely known for her role in Broadway's [title of show] and as the host of Side by Side by Susan Blackwell. Actor and singer Heidi Blickenstaff has starred in Broadway's [title of show], The Little Mermaid, The Full Monty and The Addams Family. She has starred in a number of touring productions as well as television and film projects. Cynthia Germanotta will join as a first time alumni parent judge. Cynthia's daughter and Tisch alumna, Stefani Germanotta, participated in UltraViolet Live in 2005, and went on to a flourishing career as recording artist, activist, fashion designer, philanthropist, and actress, as Lady Gaga. Cynthia and her daughter co-founded Born This Way Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to creating a safe community where individuality is celebrated by connecting youth with the skills, resources and opportunities they need to build a braver, kinder world.

UVL is tonight, March 6, 2014 at 7pm in the Skirball Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are available for $12 to the NYU community and $15 for non-NYU at the Skirball Box Office. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to a foundation to be announced.

Previous UVL contestants include Ashley Mortensen (Broadway's Wicked), Matt Palmer (Recording Artist with HoriPro Entertainment Group), Ryann Redmond (Broadway's Bring It On & If/Then), Brandyn Burnette (Recording Artist with Warner Bros. Records), GRAMMY Nominated Elle Varner (Recording Artist with RCA, J, MBK Entertainment), and GRAMMY Award Winner Lady Gaga/Stefani Germanotta (Recording Artist).

Previous UVL hosts, judges and special guests include EMMY Award Winner Kristen Johnston (Third Rock from the Sun, The Exes), actor Michael Showalter (Wet Hot American Summer, comedy trio Stella), actor Jackie Hoffman (Garden State, Broadway's Hairspray), Perez Hilton (Celebrity Blogger), actor/comedian Judah Friedlander (NBC's 30 Rock, Meet the Parents), actor Carson Elrod (Wedding Crashers, Broadway's Peter & the Starcatcher), actor Josh Segarra (Broadway's Lysistrata Jones, Chicago PD), actor Ben Curtis ("The Dell Dude", We Are The Hartmans), writer John Kazlauskas (Brothers & Sisters, Smash, Happily Divorced), dancer Mary Cavett (Radio City Rockette), actor Victor Williams (CBS's King of Queens, The Preacher's Wife), actor Sean Dugan (NBC's Smash, Broadway's Next Fall), actor Robbie Sublett (The Good Wife, I Don't Know How She Does It), actor/writer Hunter Bell (Broadway's Title of Show), actor Josephine Rose Roberts (Broadway's Rock of Ages) among many others.