2 Northwest New Jersey teens perform at iconic Times Square diner after selection from hundreds of applicants
NEW YORK — Two teenage performers from Northwest New Jersey took the stage at Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square on Tuesday after being selected from hundreds of applicants to perform as “Junior Stardusters.”
Brennan Scott, 17, of Denville Township in Morris County, and Mia Sanchez, 15, of Franklin in Sussex County, were two of five young performers selected for the opportunity.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner is known for its singing waitstaff, called the Stardusters, and has employed performers who later went on to careers on Broadway, Off-Broadway and television.
Scott and Sanchez were selected after more than 300 submissions were received in less than 24 hours from young performers across the United States and beyond, according to information provided by the diner.
They were among 30 finalists invited to audition in person at Ellen’s Stardust Diner on July 21.
During Tuesday’s event, Scott performed “Dream Lover” from “Just in Time,” while Sanchez performed “All This Time” from “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
Watch: Brennan Scott, 17, of Denville performs “Dream Lover” from “Just in Time”
Scott, who is preparing to enter his senior year of high school, developed an interest in performing after singing with his father’s rock band. That experience led him to audition for his sixth-grade talent show.
He has since appeared in regional productions of “American Idiot” and “Newsies” and plans to pursue musical theater in college. His musical influences include Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé.
Watch: Mia Sanchez, 15, of Franklin performs “All This Time” from “The Count of Monte Cristo”
Sanchez began performing at age 8, singing for PATH passengers at Journal Square. She later gained national exposure through appearances on Season 19 of “America’s Got Talent” and Season 24 of “American Idol.”
She has also performed in regional productions of “Mean Girls,” “Legally Blonde” and “Frozen.” Sanchez lives with her family in Franklin.
The finalists had performed before a judging panel that included Broadway performers Nick Barrington, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Lisa Howard and Bailey McCall, along with vocal and theater artist Katy Wolfe.
The Junior Stardusters performance coincided with Kids’ Night on Broadway, a Broadway League program intended to introduce younger audiences to live theater.
