Rounds of Competition

King/Queen of Broadway
Contestants of 2006

Joe Amato

Joe is an 18 year old hailing from Lockport, Illinois. Here, he has appeared in many musicals and concerts. In addition to singing and acting, Joe enjoys playing guitar and saxophone, as well as songwriting. Along with theatre, he has been very involved in his school choirs and bands. Joe has been seen on the stage as Angie the Ox in Guys and Dolls, Yussel in Fiddler on the Roof(Phillip Lynch Theatre), Indio in West Side Story, Ensemble/Understudy Neville Landless in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Barrister/Nikko in The Wizard of Oz, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof(Ludwig Theatre), Harold Hill in The Music Man and Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Joe will soon be attending Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL to study vocal music education with a theatre endorsement.

Gabriella Battista

Musical theatre is my passion! Unfortunately I have only been in one musical before (Bye Bye Birdie) where I was cast as Mae Peterson due to strong acting skills. I have never gotten the chance to sing in a "musical theatre style" before and I am excited to start learning. I have had no vocal training but I never stop singing and aspiring to improve my voice. I am looking forward to a great experience!

Michael Campbell

Michael has been performing for the past 16 years in and out of the northern california area. He makes his home in the city of Sacramento. By day he makes his rounds as an actor with the B street theatre touring company Fantasy Theatre, performing about 3 shows a day at 2 schools a day incompasing a 150 mile radius of Sac. By night he performs in whatever he can get his hands on! Some of his favorite roles include but are not limited to, (both) Man #1 and Man #2 in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! at (The Delta King, Magic Circle, and The Acting Company), Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd at (The Western Stage and Davis Musical Theatre Company) Bobby in Company at (VMT) Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore at (The Mondavi Center) Sam and everyone in Fully Committed, a one man show at (The Acting Company) Himself in The Complete Works of Shakespeare abridged (The Acting Co.) Clifford in Deathtrap at (Garbeau's Dinner theatre and The Acting Co.) and Remnar in Escanaba in Da Moonlight at (Main Street Theatre Works).

Ryan Cappleman

Ryan Cappleman is a 17 year old from Wisconsin. Some of his favorite roles include Schlomo in Fame, the Artful Dodger in Oliver, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Father in Ragtime and Mr. Mistofelees and Bustopher Jones in Cats. He studied piano for almost his entire life, winning several contests, accompanying soloists for juried competitions and talent showcases, and playing in the orchestra pit for several shows. He also studies voice with Christine O'Meally. Ryan hopes to be a Broadway star someday, but first, he'll just finish high school.

Annie Forrest

Although born and raised in Ireland, Annie has been dreaming of performing on the Broadway stage since her first trip to New York seven years ago. Since then, she has become a true connoisseur in the art form of musical theater, and makes an annual pilgrimage to America to inspect the current Broadway season. She is in the process of completing her bachelor's degree in Psychology in the United States, and will then move on to London to pursue a masters in Musical Theater. Annie has performed in and directed various works, winning critical acclaim, even dabbling once or twice in the mythic professional realm. Although she has been taking vocal instruction though she admits her forte is still acting, and is eager to receive constructive criticism from the judges.

Kelsee B. Hankins

Kelsee, a 19 year old Indiana native, will be a sophomore in the BFA Musical Theatre program at Millikin University this fall. Since the young age of seven, Kelsee has appeared in over 100 theatrical and cabaret productions. Some favorite past shows include: Grease (Rizzo), Les Miserables (Factory Girl), Annie Get Your Gun (Dolly Tate), Seussical, Little Women (Jo March), Annie, and The Fantasticks (Luisa). Kelsee has also been named a Distinguished Soloist by music arranger Kirby Shaw at the 2005 Smoky Mountain Music Festival. Away from musical theatre, Kelsee has also appeared in sevveral industrial films, as well as the feature film, Somewhere in Indiana.

Megan Herzing

I am a senior at Princess Anee High School. I am a member of the madrigal and jazz choir in the chorus program there. I am also a member of the thespian troupe at my school. I have been involved with all the productions there. I was ensemble in Grease, Gilmer in Godspell, and Anybodys in West Side story. I love to sing and act and dance.

Tabitha Judy

I'm a high school English and drama teacher. It took teaching to get over stage fright, which plagued my youth. I have been working with a voice teacher for less than a year now, but have been singing to myself all of my life. I've ventured out to do community theater for the last few years and have enjoyed working on some great shows. I hope to get some good advice/constructive criticism from the judges and some personal growth having to listen to myself sing.

Chelsea A Kreines

16 year old studying musical theatre locally in Philadelphia. Chelsea takes tap classes weekly, and is starting her first voice lessons ever next month. Roles include Audrey (Little Shop of Horrors), Newsboy (Working), Lucinda u/s Little Red (Into the Woods), The Narrator (Into the Woods), Dream Laurey (Oklahoma!), Wanda (Summer of the Swans), and ensemble for "Oklahoma!", "42nd Street", "The King and I" and "Beauty and the Beast".

Claire LeBorgne

I am a recent home school graduate from Lakewood, Colorado and am really excited to be studying opera performance at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music this fall. I have only been doing musical theater for three years. My favorite roles so far have been Fiona MacLaren in Brigadoon and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. One of my favorite non-musical theater performances was opening the 100th Annual National Western Stock Show's PCRA Rodeo by singing our National Anthem on horseback! I also play the piano and the flute and have been studying ballet and musical theater dance for two years.

Jessica Mennella

Jessica holds a BA in French, English, and linguistics and a MA in speech-language pathology. Though a speech-language pathologist by trade, she is a musician and performer at heart. From her early days wearing a red nightgown singing “Tomorrow” to her most recent triumph as Eva Peron (her favorite role to date), Jessica is a self-taught vocalist. Other community theatre credits: Jack’s Mother (Into the Woods), Aunt Eller (Oklahoma), Nellie (J&H), Sonja (Godspell), Reno (Anything Goes), Domina (…Forum), Catherine (Pippin), Audrey (Little Shop), and Carmen in a concert version of Bizet’s opera. Jessica also cantors in churches during Masses, weddings, baptisms, and funerals, and is an accomplished violinist. Additionally, Jessica had the opportunity to musically direct Honk! last summer. Jessica enjoys many hobbies from d-i-y projects to playing Trivial Pursuit, but her favorite pastime is hanging out with her three best boys— husband Luigi, 3 year old Alexander, and 8 month old Nicholas.

Angela Merrithew

A Minnesota native, Angela now resides in Missouri with her husband, Michael. She started singing in high school, and hasn't stopped since. After the big move to Missouri, Angela has performed in eight community theater shows, all but one at Columbia Entertainment Company. She has played altos, sopranos, young girls, old women... and a duck. Roles include Magnolia in 'Show Boat', Sarah in 'The Civil War', Marian in 'Swingtime Canteen', Betty Blake Rogers in 'The Will Rogers Follies', Domina in 'A Funny Thing ...Forum', Ida in 'Honk!', Marian in 'The Music Man' and Adelaide in 'Guys and Dolls', with chorus roles, dancing roles, props, lights, assistant directing and costume assisting under her belt as well. An aspiring community theater director, Angela treats each show as a memorable learning experience for the future, as well as a golden moment of the present that will turn into fond memories of the past.

Jessica Miller

Jessica Miller is a 20 year old junior at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where she is pursing a BFA in acting and a minor in vocal performance. In the past 5 years, she has performed in many plays and musicals. In addition, she has performed in college choral ensembles, as well as in her church choir and pageants. Past credits include Godspell and You’re and Good Man, Charlie Brown, as well as the plays The Women, Our Town, and Eat Your Heart Out. Jessica is currently rehearsing for Beauty and the Beast in the role of Madame de la Grande Bouche. Her ultimate goal is to perform professionally and eventually make it to the bright lights of Broadway.

Jamie Muscato

I'm sixteen years old and have been singing and acting in amateur musical theatre since I was 10. I have been having vocal coaching for two years and hope to make a career in musical theatre and film.

Matt Newhard

My name is Matt and I'm 22 years old from Phoenix, Arizona. To be completely honest I've never auditioned or performed on the stage in a musical and have never received any sort of vocal training. I love to sing but my voice mostly stays in my bedroom. I'm deciding on possibly majoring in voice or theatre in college so I thought I'd enter this contest to receive the honest criticism and opinions of my peers and the judges to possibly help me decide if I should or not.

Marie Rivest

I'm 19, I come from a little town in Québec (yup, I'm a French-Canadian, thus the weird accent). I just completed a D.E.C. in Arts and Letters at the Cégep de Joliette and in August, I enter the Musical Theatre program at the Lionel-Groulx College, after taking the auditions for the second time. I've always liked to sing, as far as I can remember, but I've only started taking lessons when I finished high school (that means 2 years ago), though I've always sung in choirs.

Erik Scott

Erik has been performing in Musical Theatre productions since the young age of 6. At the age of 9, he made his debut at the Queens Theatre in the Park professional theatre, belting away to a 700-seated audience. He has been taking voice lessons in Manhattan from Adam Roebuck Voice Studios and the Carrie Lewis Vocal Studio. As a member of the only musical theatre club at Boston University, Erik has performed numerous times with his colleagues, the last show being "No Day But Today: A Tribute to Jonathan Larson," in which Erik played the title character. Next semester, Erik will be making his directorial debut in "A Night in Oz," a showcase of three of some of the best musicals in history: The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz and Wicked. Erik would like to continue his study of voice (as his finances allow!) and one day be able to perform in Off- and On- Broadway productions. In addition, as a Business Administration and Management major, Erik would one day like to open up his very own Music School to create a musical learning place for kids, teens and adults.

Kathleen Sera - Visit Kathleen's Website

Kathleen has been performing in both professional and amateur productions since the tender age of eleven. Born in Edmonton, Alberta, she is currently studying Theatre Arts in Costume Cutting and Construction at Red Deer College. She looks forward to what she hopes will be a successful career, both on and back stage. Recent theatre credits include Amalia Balash in She Loves Me, Tuptim in The King and I and Charlie Brown in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Lesley Shuman

I am 18 years old and have always been a Broadway fan. My very first musical theater role was Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and then I continued to work at a Renaissance faire in the cast. I plan to continue with more musical theater, but I dont neccessarily have to become famous.

Rebecca Smith

I'm a sixteen year old singer who loves musicals! I've never had the benefit of singing lessons, so I have worked on my singing through listening to the pros and asking for critiques wherever I show my singing. My goal is to be able to preform in the musicals I love.

Kaitlyn Stobbe

Kaitlyn is a 16 year old Jr. who is looking forward to graduating and pursuing her heart’s desire, musical theatre. She has been blessed to have many teachers who have kept her from losing her sanity and have encouraged her to follow her dreams. She has sung with the Houston Grand Opera and acted with the A.D. Players. Her favorite credits include Slightly/Peter U/S in Peter Pan, Joy in Cinderella, and Sally in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She is also an accomplished pianist and an avid equestrian rider.

Pamela Wong

Pamela has been performing for pretty much her entire life. She performed in various shows in high school . She was seen in BU's producition of "No Day But Today: A Tribute to Jonathan Larson" where she played Alexi Darling. She also musically directed Grease at BU and was the MD for a semester for her a cappella group, Aural Fixation. In the fall, she will be co-directing a showcase called "A Night In Oz," featuring Songs from "Wicked," "The Wiz," and "The Wizard of Oz."

Receive audition tips in your mailbox! Sign up for our e-mail newsletter: