51 SINGERS TO VIE FOR TOP PRIZE IN EIGHT-WEEK CONTEST AT THE METROPOLITAN ROOM

51 solo singers will compete in this year's “MetroStar Talent Challenge,” an eight-week, jury and audience-voted elimination-round competition hosted by Metropolitan Room.  The contest begins on Monday, July 12, at 7pm, and culminates on Monday, August 30, at 7pm, when a new grand prize-winner and two runners-up will be chosen.

This year’s pool of rotating judges includes the singers Allan Harris, Klea Blackhurst and KT Sullivan, who, in addition to assessing the talent on their respective nights, will perform double duty and sing several songs. Harris judges and performs on August 16, Blackhurst rates and shakes on August 23 and Sullivan swings both ways on August 30. Also serving as judges, are the cabaret and jazz entertainers Eric Comstock, Baby Jane Dexter, Barbara Fasano, Sharon McNight and Ricky Ritzel, and the media personalities Bill Boggs, David Kenney, Donald Smith and Valerie Smaldone.  The contest’s two permanent judges are Roy Sander, the chairman, and critic Rob Lester.

The career-boosting “MetroStar” encourages singers across a spectrum of styles, and from any age bracket, to present well-rounded stage performances in which creativity, innovation and authenticity are prized over vocal pyrotechnics. The grand prize-winner (named the night of the contest's finale on August 30) will win a fully produced, prime-time booking at  Metropolitan Room and a professionally produced live recording of this upcoming show (the club invites several prominent professionals and artists to collaborate with the winner).  The two runners-up will open for the winner and receive demo recordings of their appearances.

The 2010 contest’s schedule consists of three trial rounds (July 12, 19, 26); August 2 (when the talent is whittled down to 18); the quarter finals on August 9 (pitting the top 10), the semi-finals on August 16 (when the five semi-finalists will be asked, among other things, to present original versions of the same song) and two rounds of finals on August 23 and 30 when the five semifinalists are narrowed down to a winner and two runners-up.

The contest’s music director is Nate Buccieri, who will be assisted by Tracy Stark and Bill Zeffiro.  Liz Lark Brown, the reigning MetroStar, will perform on the final night.

To check out the talent roster and schedule for the 2010 "MetroStar Talent Challenge," visit www.metropolitanroom.com Eight consecutive Mondays, July 12 to August 30, are all at 7pm.  The cover charge for all shows is $20, with a two-drink minimum. Rated "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, the Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22^ndStreet, was recently called "the best of New York's smaller clubs" by The New York Times.  For reservations call (212)206-0440.