New Staybridge Suites Times Square Hotel Offers Aspiring Performers a 'Big Broadway Break'

NEW YORK, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- With the new American Idol winner crowned, there's still a chance for those seeking fame and fortune to have their name in lights.  Staybridge Suites - Times Square - New York City is offering an aspiring performer a six-month hotel stay, giving them a home base in the heart of Times Square; a series of personalized Broadway Classroom workshops from Broadway.com to help them perfect their performance skills; sessions with Broadway experts; $5,000 for living expenses and more.

Those seeking their "Big Broadway Break" can submit a video of themselves performing one of two classic Broadway songs, "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows."  No previous performing experience is required.  The winner will be chosen from a field of entries narrowed down to ten finalists by public vote, then selected by a panel of Broadway industry judges including Seth Rudetsky from Sirius/XM Broadway radio; Adam Feldman, the associate theater and cabaret editor from Time Out New York and award winning Broadway casting director, Stephanie Klapper.  See below for more information about the judges.  Judges will base their selection on creativity and quality of performance.

"We're looking for entries that really stand out creatively," said Seth Rudetsky, one of the judges and the host of Sirius/XM Broadway radio. "We want to see contestants who can sing but we also want to see a full performance. Give us character, give us an arc, give us sass!"

"With the contest entry period nearly half-way over, we have some good candidates," said Anthony Melchiorri, senior vice president of operations, Staybridge Suites - Times Square.  "But there is still a great chance for contestants to enter and win.  We want to help give a talented performer the chance to get their foot in the door and look forward to receiving many more great video entries."

The three Broadway Classroom sessions provided by Broadway.com will focus on "getting your foot in the door," helping the winner to put together their resume, headshots, and obtain an Actors' Equity Card; developing audition material and preparing for an interview with a casting director.  Classes are approximately 90 minutes.  Casting director Stephanie Klapper will also orchestrate a mock interview for the winner, providing valuable feedback to prepare them for future audition opportunities; associate theater and cabaret editor Adam Feldman will do a one-on-one interview with them and radio personality Seth Rudetsky will interview them on his weekly talk show, Seth's Broadway Chatterbox, on broadwayworld.com.

The winner will serve as Staybridge Suites - Times Square's blogger in residence for the duration of their six-month stay, sharing details about their New York City experience and quest to make it on Broadway on Facebook and Twitter.

Videos can be entered on Staybridge Suites - Times Square's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/staybridgesuitestimessquare) until June 18, 2010.  From June 19 - 25, a public vote will determine the final ten contestants.  Of the final ten, the judge's panel will choose the winner, who will be announced on July 1.  

Videos should be no longer than two minutes and compellingly convey why the performer deserves their "Big Broadway Break." Contestants can only enter once and must be 21 years of age.  All videos become property of Staybridge Suites -Times Square - New York City.  For a complete list of rules and video requirements, visit www.facebook.com/staybridgesuitestimessquare.  

In addition to the prizes listed above, the winner will enjoy Staybridge Suites' signature complimentary services and amenities over the course of their stay, which include breakfast daily; mid-week evening receptions with complimentary beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres; 24-hour business center access; a 24-hour fitness center complete with state-of-the-art Cybex® Equipment; high speed wireless Internet in-room and throughout the hotel; in-room HBO plus 150 additional television channels; laundry facilities and local phone calls.

Located on West 40th Street at Ninth Avenue, the epicenter of Manhattan, the new 310-studio Staybridge Suites Times Square - New York City, offers guests front row access to Times Square,  the Theater District, Restaurant Row and all major transportation hubs and the city's museums, shopping and evening hotspots.  Each room features a fully-equipped kitchenette and the hotel's 24-hour convenience store, BridgeMart®, is stocked with snacks, beverages, easy-to-prepare meals, personal items and an array of New York centric food and novelty items for purchase.  Guests can request grocery shopping and delivery through the concierge as well.  

For more information about Staybridge Suites Times Square - New York City or to make a reservation please visit www.staytimessquare.com or call 1.888.617.3376.

About the Judges

Adam Feldman is president of the New York Drama Critics' Circle and is the associate theater and cabaret editor for Time Out New York.  

Stephanie Klapper is a New York-based Casting Director.  Her work has been seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, internationally, on television, film, the internet, and heard on radio.  Projects she has been involved with have won numerous awards including the Tony, OBIES, Drama Desk, Artios, Pulitzer Prize winners/nominees, Sundance Audience Award, Cannes Prize Du Publique and Comic Con.  Selected recent Broadway and Off-Broadway shows include DIVIDING THE ESTATE (2009 Tony Nomination), BELLS ARE RINGING, IT AIN'T NOTHING BUT THE BLUES; THE TEMPERAMENTALS, HAPPY NOW?, THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES; HAMLET, THE COCKTAIL PARTY, and AN OAK TREE (NY/LA).  She is the resident casting director for Primary Stages, TACT (The Actors Company Theater) and New York Classical Theater and is working on numerous regional theater plays/musicals currently running, as well as independent feature films.  In addition to her work as a casting director, Ms. Klapper teaches workshops in New York and around the country at various colleges and universities and is an adjunct professor at Ball State University.  Ms. Klapper is a member of the Casting Society of America and the League of Professional Theater Women.

Seth Rudestky is the afternoon Broadway host on Sirius/XM radio.  As a musician, Seth has played piano for more than a dozen Broadway shows including RAGTIME, LES MIZ and PHANTOM and was the vocal coach for the LEGALLY BLONDE reality show on MTV.  He was the Artistic Producer/Music Director for the first five annual Actors Fund Fall Concerts including DREAMGIRLS and HAIR.  As a comic, he won the title "Funniest Gay Male in NY" at Stand-Up NY, had a long-running show at Caroline's Comedy Club and spent two years as a comedy writer on THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW, receiving three Emmy nominations.  As an actor, he played Arnold in the Gallery Players production of TORCH SONG TRILOGY, had roles on ALL MY CHILDREN and  LAW AND ORDER: C.I. and on Broadway, was in THE RITZ at The Roundabout Theater.  He's written the books THE Q GUIDE TO BROADWAY and BROADWAY.  BROADWAY NIGHTS was just released as an audio book on Audible.com featuring himself, Jonathan Groff, Andrea Martin and Kristin Chenoweth.  He was in London and Liverpool during summer of 2009 filming a British TV show and spent August performing his new show, "Seth's Broadway 101", to sold-out audiences in New York.  Currently, he writes a weekly column at Playbill.com and his website, www.SethRudetsky.com. This Spring, he'll be featured on an episode of the Emmy-Award-winning Kathy Griffin Show on Bravo.

About Staybridge Suites Hotels

Staybridge Suites® is an innovative all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended-stay guests.  It is ideal for travelers seeking a residential-style hotel that is perfect for business, relocation and vacations.  Staybridge Suites was ranked highest in guest satisfaction among extended stay hotel chains, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study(SM).  

The chain was also named best in customer satisfaction during the first quarter of 2009.  Based on 35,000 customer interviews in a Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI) quarterly survey, guests named Staybridge Suites the leader in customer satisfaction within the upscale hotel segment. Staybridge Suites' score surpassed 23 other hotel brands in this category. www.staybridge.com

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms.  IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 645,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.  The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza®

SOURCE Staybridge Suites Times Square