Arts & Entertainment
Taking Center Stage! Ellen’s Stardust Diner Celebrates Kids’ Night on Broadway
The iconic diner with singing servers in Times Square will hold auditions for kids from across the country who are bound for showbiz.
Press release
While auditions will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the top five winners will be announced at 1 p.m., who will return to perform alongside the Stardusters at the diner the day of Kids Night on Broadway later this summer.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 1 p.m., Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square will announce the five winners of its celebration of Kids’ Night on Broadway. After an initial call for auditions, the diner received hundreds of virtual submissions, and filtered down to 30 talented kids from across the U.S. who are invited to take the stage in-person in front of a panel of renowned theater and industry judges from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The 30 finalists will belt out a tune to compete for one of five coveted spots to perform at the diner ahead of Kids’ Night on Broadway curtain time later this summer – alongside the diner’s world famous singing waitstaff, The Stardusters.
Kids’ Night on Broadway is a program of The Broadway League, designed to introduce young people to the magic of live theatre and make Broadway accessible to a new generation of theatergoers. Kids aged 18 and under get to see a participating Broadway show for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Ellen’s Stardust Diner will participate in the program’s restaurant promotional offerings where kids will eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner is open 365 days a year from 7 a.m. to midnight, including all major holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. For more information, visit
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
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The schedule is included below.
· 9 a.m. – 30 kids to arrive at the diner, with approximately 10 to audition per hour. Judges and programming to be introduced.
· 9:15 a.m. – Judge Jodie Langel to lead a vocal warmup with her viral “Raise your YaYaYa” exercise with everyone on stage.
· 9:30 a.m. – Auditions begin for 6- to 12-year-olds
· 10:30 a.m. – Auditions begin for 13- and 14-year-olds
· 11:30 a.m. – Auditions begin for 15- and 16-year-olds
· Noon – Auditions begin for 17- and 18-year-olds
· 1 p.m. – Winners to be announced and photo moment with winners and judges
