MIDTOWN/HELL'S KITCHEN— When a choir teacher encouraged then-freshman Jelani Remy to audition for his high school's production of "Grease," he struck gold.
Remy, who grew up in New Jersey, landed the role of Doody— and a first taste of the life he would pursue onstage.
Now 38, Remy has built a Broadway career around some of musical theater's most recognizable characters.
He made his Broadway debut as Simba in "The Lion King," and originated the dual roles of Goldie Wilson and Marvin Berry in "Back to the Future: The Musical."
"It was that actor-audience connection that I have fallen in insane love with and keep chasing," Remy said.
Remy wants to give young performers the same chance he received: a stage, an audience and someone willing to see their potential.
On Sept. 17, Remy will host the fifth annual NextGen Spotlight at the Green Room 42 in Hell's Kitchen, bringing emerging singers, dancers, choreographers and musical-theater performers together for an evening benefiting Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS.
He began NextGen Spotlight during the pandemic, when Broadway had gone dark and performers sent taped auditions from home.
The virtual showcase grew into an annual live event, encompassing larger audiences, emerging talent and Broadway legends.
This year's Broadway veteran spotlight will include Ken Ard, who originated the roles of Macavity, Plato and the Rumpus Cat in the original 1982 production of "Cats."
Each year, Remy keeps his search broad, looking beyond singers to dancers, choreographers, and young artists with something he has not seen before.
He relies on a growing circle of friends and collaborators to flag artists he might otherwise miss.
"It's like my Pokemon I get to find every year," Remy said.
Remy encourages young artists to approach their careers the same way he approaches scouting: watching performances, building Broadway connections and always leading with kindness.
For example, instead of remaining silent while waiting for autographs outside a theater's stage door, Remy strikes up conversations with the strangers beside him.
"And now they've become friends for life," he said. "So, that's the beauty of what we get to do as human beings."
Remy will also take the stage at the Spotlight himself, hosting the evening and opening with an original parody before performing "Being Alive" from "Company," a song he chose to honor the concert's focus on human connection.
Audiences can expect live music and performances with an immersive setup intended to make the audience feel like part of the show.
The fifth annual NextGen Spotlight takes place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 17, at 570 10th Ave.
The performance will also be available via livestream for those unable to attend in person.
Tickets are available here.
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