Manhattan Theatre Club is holding a high school musical theatre competition for New York City high schools, titled New Friends. The program is inspired by MTC's upcoming Broadway revue Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, set to begin previews March 25 ahead of an April 8 opening night at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

All currently enrolled high school students in New York City are eligible to submit a video of themselves performing a Sondheim song, and seven finalists will be selected to perform their chosen song live at Steinway Hall before a panel of judges. The winner will receive audition coaching from MTC's casting team, an invitation to MTC's 2025 Spring Gala, and tickets to Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends on Broadway.

Interested students must register by March 7, and submit their videos by March 17. For more information about eligibility and how to register, visit ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends began as a one-night-only affair at London's Sondheim Theatre in 2022, an evening that was filmed and later broadcast on BBC Two. The evening was brought back for a limited West End run at the Gielgud Theatre the following year.

The production recently opened its pre-Broadway engagement in Los Angeles, with Lea Salonga and Bernadette Peters reprising their performances from the musical's London run. Also back from the West End bow are Bonnie Langford, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, and Jeremy Secomb. The cast also includes Jacob Dickey, Kevin Earley, Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, Beth Leavel, Maria Wirries, Daniel Yearwood, Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez, Greg Mills, and Peter Neureuther. Earley replaces the previously announced David Harris. Casting is by The TRC Company.

As in the West End, the concert features the songs of Stephen Sondheim and is devised by producer Cameron Mackintosh. Matthew Bourne is back to provide musical staging and direction, along with co-director Julia McKenzie. Stephen Mear is choreographing. The production also features music supervision by Alfonso Casado Trigo and Stephen Brooker, arrangements by Stephen Metcalfe, set design by Matt Kinley, projection design by George Reeve, costume design by Jill Parker, lighting design by Warren Letton, and sound design by Mick Potter. Annbritt duChateau is conducting, with David Lober serving as production stage manager.

Visit ManhattanTheatreClub.com.