NEW YORK — Two teenage performers from Northwest New Jersey have been selected from hundreds of applicants to take the stage at Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square later this month.
Brennan Scott, 17, of Denville in Morris County, and Mia Sanchez, 15, of Franklin in Sussex County, secured two of five spots to perform as “Junior Stardusters” at the New York City diner on Aug. 25.
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.
Scott performed Bobby Darin’s 1959 song “Dream Lover,” while Sanchez performed “All This Time” from “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
The finalists 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.
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.
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.
Scott and Sanchez are scheduled to perform at Ellen’s Stardust Diner on the same day as Kids’ Night on Broadway, a Broadway League program intended to introduce younger audiences to live theater.
Under the Kids’ Night on Broadway program, children and teenagers 18 and younger can attend participating Broadway shows for free when accompanied by an adult purchasing a full-price ticket.
