Media Theatre's "The Vocalist" Contestants Announced

In the past, young singers were vying to be the "Delco Idol". Now, the professional music theatre company at The Media Theatre which produces the region's most popular singing competition, is naming the contest for what it highlights. "The Vocalist" will charge full steam ahead this summer beginning Wednesday July 10 emceed by FOX-Philadelphia's charming morning anchor Sue Serio. The "Junior" portion of the contest, held on Sunday nights starting July 14, will be emceed by local actress Micki Sharpe.

Along with the title change, a few new rules are in place as well. The biggest allows each contestant more of an opportunity to showcase their skills--No one is eliminated until after Week Three. This means that for the first three weeks all 40 contestants in each contest (culled from three audition nights in which over 125 sang their hearts out) will receive equal opportunity, recognition, and deserved applause. 

"Audiences will actually get to see all of the contestants grow," said the music theatre company's Artistic Director Jesse Cline. "The contestants will feel more at home on the stage as they have three weeks to do their best, without the constant pressure of not returning the following week."

Cline, as the one constant judge, is a part of another change in the competition. He will have an extra category on his ballot that will not appear on the guest judges' tally sheets. His added category is entitled Individualism, which reflects his connection to the singers during rehearsals and his ability to speak to them following their performances. "In getting to know them more than the other judges it is a logical step forward. There may be a week in which a young singer falters a bit...but I will know what they are capable of and who they are. The Individualism category speaks to the fact that each contestant is unique and their interests and what is best for them should come first. Each has their own story to tell."

The guest judges will mark their ballots in three categories this year, rather than just the two that had been tradition. The added category of Song Choice will join Vocal Ability and Stage Presence. Cline will have those three, plus his extra category. All categories will utilize a 1-10 ranking system with 1 being the lowest score and 10 being the highest possible.

Online voting will also not affect any outcome until after Week Three of the contest. Once the third week comes to its eventual close the online scores will be tallied and the person with the most votes online will receive an added 30 points to their total score, which may or may not assist them in moving forward. The second place online singer will receive an added 25 points, with the third receiving 20 extra. Vote-getters four through ten receive 15 extra points, and those who rank eleven through fifteen online will gain 10 extra to possibly move them into the Semi-Finals.

The Semi-Finals will see the Top 25 sing during week four of each "Vocalist" competition, with 15 returning for The Finals.

"Education is a large part of our mission," said Cline. "Yes, this is a contest. Yes, a cash prize and other gifts are given when it comes to its conclusion. But the most important thing are the youth involved on the stage and how valuable this experience is for them. Therefore, we try to instruct as much as we can during the process. A showcase of three weeks for each seems the best way to go about this, rather than eliminating after they sing one time. The changes we are making are for their benefit and with their best interest at heart."

"We also have more first-timers to our stage this summer than ever before," Cline explained. "Most of the contestants this summer have not appeared on our stage prior to this, not even in our summer camp or acting classes. Most are from Delaware County, but they span a wide area from Center City Philadelphia with several students from The University of The Arts to West Chester and Wilmington, Delaware. That makes us very happy."

The Vocalist 2013 contestants are:

Rebecca Alexander, 20, Broomall; Elese Bevelheimer, 14, Woodbury, NJ; Kyleigh Bleacher, 16, Ridley Park; Rebecca Brandow, 24, West Chester; Kasey Brown, 16, Wilmington, DE; Jasmine Bryant, 18, Upper Darby; Kristen Busiemi, 15, Drexel Hill; Rhiannon Charney, 16, Boothwyn; Stephen Christner, 18, Devon; Danea Coble, 19, Philadelphia; Asia DeShields, 16, Newark, DE; Jake Donnelly, 22, Media; Savannah Dysard, 17, Glen Mills; Ana Finnegan, 15, Wallingford; Derrick Ford, 18, Yeadon.

Also Molly Jo Gifford, 17, Folsom; Austy Hicks, 16, Wayne; Benn Tyler Iffrig, 18, Springfield; Danielle Lachalle, 22, Aston; Alex Larsen, 18, Media; Marcelyn Lebovitz, 17, Malvern; Le'Aisha Lewis, 14, Sharon Hill; Lauren Lindley, 15, West Chester; Andrew Loper, 15, Springfield; Madison Paige Martin, 16, Rutledge; Sarah Mills, 16, Delaware County; Kyle Murray, 18, Media; Jessica Nichter, 15, West Chester; Dominique Pizzo, 14, Boothwyn; Julia Richter, 14, Phoenixville.

And Jordan Robbins, 20, Malvern; Olivia Schappell, 15, Devon; Courtney Schultz, 15, Upper Darby; Marie Sminkey, 15, Brookhaven; Shaelyn Ruddy, 20, Chadds Ford; Nicholas Trawick, 19, Philadelphia; Kathleen VanNewKirk, 20, Boothwyn; Michael Walczak, 15, Glenolden; DeShana Wooden, 20, Philadelphia; Melissa Yowell, 23, North Wales.

The "Junior" contestants are:

Jasmine Ayadi, 7, Brookhaven; Julianna Bader, 11, Morton; Georgia Bevelheimer, 11, Woodbury, NJ; Morgan Bitzberger, 11, Thornton; Alli Buchanan, 11, Upper Darby; Amanda Clark, 13, Media; Brinley Clark, 8, Media; Juliana Clark, 12, Folsom; Kieran Clark, 11, Media; Ashlyn Coletti, 11, Springfield; Katheryn Cooper, 10, Glen Mills; Charlotte Croquette, 12, Media; Caroline Dempsey, 13, Broomall; Danielle DiFiore, 12, Media; Samantha Dobson, 12, Phoenixville; Cassidy Else, 8, Drexel Hill; Shaelyn Fabik, 13, Drexel Hill; Elaina Fitzgerald, 10, Media; Vanessa Rose Flores, 8, Glen Mills; Leigh Ford, 11, Schwenksville; Veronica Garrubbo, 10, Berwyn; Dayonna Hayes, 13, Media.

Also Vicky Heppard, 11, Ridley Park; Jesse Holahan, 13, Phoenixville; Justina Holahan, 11, Phoenixville; Brianna Jaffe, 11, Media; Gillian Keener, 13, Aston; Haley Leberman, 11, Downingtown; Matthew Leberman, 13, Downingtown; Rachel McVey, 9, Norriston; Paul Anthony Mariani III, 13, Ardmore; Selena Marie, 13, Maple Shade, NJ; Fiona Moser, 10, Havertown; Johanna Murphy, 10, Springfield; Jacqueline Scheck, 13, Brookhaven; Christopher Smith, 12, Media; Emily Smith, 11, Media; Emily Steinhardt, 13, Berwyn; Sarah Strong, 11, Newtown Square; Jake Wade, 8, Glen Mills; Madison Yannatelli, 13, Newtown Square

For tickets and information, plus online voting, visit www.mediatheatre.org or call 610-891-0100.