WHERE TO SEE THE RISING STARS OF BROADWAY AND 'AMERICAN IDOL'

 ELLEN'S STARDUST DINER NURTURES STARS OF BROADWAY AND 'AMERICAN IDOL' BEFORE THEY HIT THE BIG TIME

Ellen's Stardust Diner, the destination 1950s-themed eatery located in the heart of New York City's Theater District, has become a breeding ground for tomorrow's top vocal talent. Since opening in its present location in 1995, many of Ellen's internationally renowned singing waiters/waitresses have gone on to prominent roles in top Broadway productions and late-round berths on 'American Idol.' Two recent success stories include Zak Resnick and Devyn Rush, who were both selected as finalists on the current season of 'American Idol.' Rush made it to Hollywood on the heels of her stirring rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child," while Resnick auditioned with a song he routinely sings to crowds at Ellen's, The Script's "The Man Who Can't Be Moved."

Read Resnick's account of the audition process: http://bit.ly/resnick-ellens-diner

Watch Devyn Rush's audition here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3XbIrGAo2w

Ellen's doesn't just attract talent, it helps nurture and develop it. When former waiter Matt Crowle told Ellen's Artistic Director Scott Barbarino he was giving up on his dream and moving back to Michigan, Barbarino sat him down for a pep talk. "I told him if he went back now, he'd always regret it," remembers Barbarino. A month later, Crowle had earned a spot in the cast of 'Spamalot.' Ellen's also welcomed former waiter Sinclair Mitchell back with open arms when he decided to leave the cast of 'The Lion King' to focus on writing his own musical, 'Atlantis.'

Today you can find former Ellen's staff members starring in virtually every Broadway and major off-Broadway musical including 'Avenue Q,'  'Jersey Boys,' 'The Lion King,' 'South Pacific,' 'In The Heights,' 'Wicked,' and more. See below for a list of prominent alumni and look for former Ellen's waitress Marla Mindelle in the highly anticipated new musical 'Sister Act' opening on Broadway this year:

Marla Mindelle - South Pacific, Sister Act
Alysha Umpress - American Idiot
Matt Crowle - Spamalot
Howie Michael Smith - Avenue Q
Matt DeAngelis - Hair
Michael Langoria - Hairspray, Jersey Boys
Brandi Chavonne Massey - Wicked
Ruben Flores - In the Heights
Brandon Ellis - Company
Sinclair Mitchell - The Lion King
Corey West - South Pacific
Terry Lavel - La Cage
Sara Dobbs - West Side Story
Laquet Sharnell - Bring It On, Memphis, Sweet Charity
April Nixon - Fosse, Tommy, Damny Yankees
Natalie Joy Johnson - Legally Blonde
Susie Cremin - Gypsy
Rachel Potter - The Addams Family


http://www.ellensstardustdiner.com