Do you like show tunes? Do you like American Idol? Do you like watching the desperate hand of hope brush ever so close to success - only to be publicly smacked away? Then set “Celebrity Duets” to Tivo and come join the fun at “Broadway Idol”, the main event of the New York Musical Theatre Festival party series.
This Friday is round two of "Broadway Idol"; over three hundred rank amateurs have already had their dreams destroyed, leaving just six contestants sweating. In this round, contestants will each belt out a Sondheim song and be eviscerated by a panel of Broadway pros who have all appeared in Sondheim shows.
But the careers of these hopefuls are not at the mercy of these actors-turned-critics; the winner is chosen by audience vote. (Which means that the crowd will be packed with each contestant’s well-wishers - so watch the volume of your voice when cracking wise during the performance.)
Tickets are $10 and include one free drink, music, dancing and entertainment by The NYMFettes, “the Festival's official ambassadors of musical theatre cheer”. (Yay!) Friday night is also "Speakeasy" night and features Brooklyn band Project Jenny Project Jan.
The third and final round, on September 29th, will see the final three contestants vying for diva status and a NYMF-produced showcase production.
The party is conveniently located on the west side at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Music and dancing starts pumping at 9:30 p.m., idolatry commences at 11:00 p.m.
