Hartford High School senior Macy Bettwieser has reached the semifinal round of Next On Stage, a national competition for high school and college students produced by the theater news website Broadway World.
Bettwieser learned just before Thanksgiving that she was among 15 applicants from a field of 250 to advance out of the competition’s initial round. Two days later, her school music teacher Andrea Nardone called to say she had made the next cut as well; Bettwieser is now one 10 national semifinalists in the high school division.
Broadway World launched Next On Stage in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to spotlight young performers around the U.S. It has showcased thousands of Broadway hopefuls in its five seasons.
In an email to Seven Days, Nardone described Next On Stage as “one of the most intense competitions for high school and college students who want to pursue a career in performing arts.”
Bettwieser entered by submitting videos of herself performing songs from Broadway productions, including “Beautiful Little Fool” from The Great Gatsby and “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress. The videos were uploaded to Broadway World where readers voted for their favorites. Now Bettwiser’s voice has carried her to the brink of the finals.
“I was shocked when she told me that she had entered and am in awe that she has made it to the final 10,” Nardone wrote.
Nardone explained that the next 24 hours are crucial to Bettwieser’s chances of making the final round: “It is imperative that the judges see that people from [Bettwieser’s] community and state are rallying for her.”
If Bettwieser makes it to the finals, she’ll perform in the 54 Below Live Finale in New York City on January 19. The grand prize is a scholarship to the AMDA College of the Performing Arts, as well as lessons from Broadway coaches, $1,000 toward a school performance, meetings with Broadway casting agents and another $1,000 donated to a charity of the winner’s choice.
Voting is open now at broadwayworld.com until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11.
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