The Stephen Sondheim Society has announced the 12 finalists in the running for the 2022 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY) contest.
Returning to the West End for the first time since the competition’s two-year Covid-enforced hiatus, the nominees will take to the stage of the Sondheim Theatre during the gala final on 30 May 2022.
Featuring the finalists each performing a Sondheim classic and a new song chosen from a selection at New UK Musicals, the 14th annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year will be hosted by Olivier Award winner Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park With George), returning after taking charge of the ceremony in 2013. The event will be directed by Hannah Chissick.
Selected by critic and broadcaster Edward Seckerson (chair of the judges) and musical director Nigel Lilley from over 300 submissions, the 12 finalists are:
- Caitlyn Allen – Arts Educational Schools (ArtsEd)
- Rithvik Andugula – London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Annabelle Aquino – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Tommy Bell – Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
- Joe Boyle – Mountview
- Desmonda Cathabel – Royal Academy of Music
- Ed Cooke – East 15 Acting School
- Cassius Hackforth – Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
- Izzy Mackie – Royal Academy of Music
- Callum Martin – Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre
- Jade Oswald – Royal Academy of Music
- Ella Shepherd – Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre
Three reserves have also been chosen to allow for any absences due to Covid-19, they are:
- Mackenzie Larsen – London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA)
- Izi Maxwell – Mountview
- Tom Watson – Bird College Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre
Announcing the finalists, Craig Glenday, chair of the Stephen Sondheim Society, said: “With the recent passing of our friend and patron, it’s heartwarming to know that nailing a Sondheim song continues to be the ultimate musical theatre touchstone – it’s the mark of a great performer and will be for generations to come, I’m sure. It might sound like a cliche to say it but the quality of SSSSPOTY applications gets better and better each year. The judges faced a particularly demanding challenge this time around, and with more than 300 applications to listen to, it was something of a herculean task to whittle down the list. A huge thank you to Edward and Nigel for selecting our final 12 students, and guaranteeing us that we’re going to have a wonderful event on 30 May.
“It’s an honour for the Society to give these students a chance to sing in the Sondheim Theatre so thank you also to our patron Cameron Mackintosh for this opportunity. We’re also thrilled to be using the event to showcase the talent of the NYMT students.”
New UK Musicals’ Darren Clark added: “New UK Musicals was created to provide a platform for some of the best new writers of musical theatre in the UK, so that students and performers could easily discover a new generation of musical theatre makers and their incredible work.
“We want new musical theatre in the UK to grow and thrive and the future of MT in this country depends on our incredibly talented performers having access to the best of new writing. Stephen Sondheim was a huge champion of new writing and wanted to ensure that new musical theatre was a part of this competition. We are delighted that we will be able to assist the Society in their efforts to honour his wishes.”
The students will compete for a top prize of £1,000 and the chance to headline their own Sondheim-themed cabaret show in London. This year’s winner will also be invited to be the subject of one of Seckerson’s popular Comparing Notes sessions at the Crazy Coqs. The runner-up will receive £500.
A judging panel including award-winning composer, lyricist, orchestrator, arranger, musical supervisor and pianist Theo Jamieson will choose the winner while founding patron and Sondheim specialist Julia McKenzie will lead the prize giving section of the evening.
The Society is also partnering with the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) for the event and the evening will also feature a performance by a chorus drawn from the current cohort of young performers.
Kylie Vilcins, associate producer for National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT), commenting: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Sondheim Society for this very special performance at the culmination of the SSSSPOTY Awards this year.
“Our NYMT 2022 In Concert company, made up of young participants aged 11-19, are thrilled to have been invited to perform at this prestigious event alongside the contestants at the Sondheim Theatre.
“NYMT exists to offer outstanding opportunities to young people around the UK and beyond, whether onstage as a performer, a musician or as part of our technical, stage management or wardrobe teams across our varied season of productions and workshops. Working with other charities and organisations like the Stephen Sondheim Society enables us to offer further invaluable as opportunities and experiences for our participants each year.”
The gala final will also include a performance by previous winner Stuart Thompson (Most Promising Newcomer, Critics Circle Theatre Awards for Spring Awakening at the Almeida Theatre).
Previous winners include Taron Egerton, Stuart Thompson and Alex Young while previous finalists include Cynthia Erivo, Lily Kerhoas, Cameron Burt and Oisin Nolan-Power.
Angela Thomas
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