RISING STAR COMPETITION Reaches Week 8 and Features Natalie Joy Johnson, Paul Canaan and Joey Taranto
By: Liz Cearns Sep. 19, 2016
WEEK 8 of the competition is duet week - and another contestant will be eliminated.
GABRIELLE GORMAN
LYON HART
RYAN MURVIN
Shauni Ruetz
JASMINE THOMAS
The remaining will compete for votes by singing DUETS!
September 20th Industry Judges:
Natalie Joy Johnson-
Natalie Joy Johnson can currently be seen 8 times a week as Pat in the 2013 Tony Award Winning Musical, KINKY BOOTS. Other theatre credits include both Paulette Buonofante (National Tour) and Enid Hoopes (Original Broadway Cast) in LEGALLY BLONDE: the Musical, as well as BARE: a pop opera (Nadia), SOUTHERN COMFORT, and SILENCE! THE MUSICAL. Natalie is an accomplished cabaret artist, selling out shows at Joe's Pub, 54 Below, Feinstein's at Lowe's Regency, & Ars Nova. For over four years, NJJ and musical director Brian Nash rocked out a hit weekly show, "Co-Dependent" at gay midtown hot spot Therapy Bar & Grille. Natalie most recently teamed up with her brilliant collaborators - John Hill & Brian Nash - and unleashed their latest creation NJJ & The Raging Case to a sold out audience at Joe's Pub in January 2016.
PAUL CAANAN-
Paul appeared on Broadway in LEGALLY BLONDE: the musical, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and KINKY BOOTS where he had a three-year stint as an angel and the production's dance captain. He has been seen in Sex and the City 2 (2010), Legally Blonde: The Musical on MTV (2007) and Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods (2008). When he's not performing, he is busy teaching his "Take it From the Top" master class to Broadway hopefuls of all ages.
Joey Taranto-
Joey starred on Broadway as Drew in ROCK OF AGES, in SPIDERMAN TURN OFF THE DARK, and in the Tony award winning KINKY BOOTS. Joey is also an accomplished singer/ songwriter with an albu on the way.
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RISE BAR is seeking it's next RISING STAR!
New York City is filled with untapped talent and we want to feature it!
After a tremendously successful first season, Rise Bar's talent contest returns! The new summer installment will be on TUESDAY nights!
The RISING STAR competition began Tuesday August 2nd. Singers compete in an 8 week elimination style contest for a $1000 cash prize and a fully produced, paid solo show at Rise. In addition to the cash and prize package, RISING STAR offers networking opportunities with celebrity judges, fantastic exposure, and valuable live stage experience.
Hosted by actress and comic Emily McNamara (NEWSICAL The Musical, Billy On The Street, HBO's Vinyl)
Sound by DJTK
Industry pros scheduled to appear as judges throughout the competition include Choreographer Shea Sullivan, Christine Dwyer (WICKED), Matt DeAngelis (HAIR), Alysha Umphress (ON THE TOWN), Leo Ash Evans (SHUFFLE ALONG), Musical Director Brad Simmons (LYSISTRATA JONES), Telly Leung (ALLEGIANCE), Director Ben Rimalower (PATTI ISSUES), Pop Star Ari Gold, Paul Caanan (KINKY BOOTS), Kate Rockwell (BRING IT ON!), Ryann Redmond (IF/THEN), Olivia Lucy Phillip (DISASTER), Nick Adams (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT), Marty Thomas (XANADU) and more.
Original contestants selected:
Stephanie Berry
ROMAN CAESAR
LINDELL CARTER
EVAN GALLAGHER-FRACE
MELISSA JENNIFER GONZALEZ
GABRIELLE GORMAN
LYON HART
CAROLINE MEMNON
RYAN MURVIN
NATHAN NAPIER
Shauni Ruetz
JASMINE THOMAS
No cover. No minimum.
Rise Bar is at 859 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019
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