CALLING ALL DANCERS! — AUDITIONS FOR PAULA ABDUL’S UPCOMING CBS REALITY-COMPETITION SERIES “GOT TO DANCE” (working title) HAVE BEGUN

Nationwide Search For The Chance To Be Crowned America’s Dance Champion

The audition process for the upcoming CBS reality-competition series GOT TO DANCE (working title) has started.  To get a leg up on the competition and apply for the chance to appear on GOT TO DANCE and audition for Paula Abdul, prospective dancers can log on to www.cbs.com/dance for an application and further details.  This is a nationwide search open to all U.S. residents.  There is no age limit or minimum.  Dancers can perform any type or style of dance, as an individual or in a group.

Paula Abdul, the award-winning dancer/choreographer, dynamic performer, multi-platinum recording artist and popular entertainment personality, is executive producer, creative partner and lead expert for the show.  She will also serve as coach, mentor and advocate for contestants during the performances and elimination process, providing critical input and guidance while sharing her experience with hopeful contestants.

GOT TO DANCE is based on the British hit that debuted earlier this year and has been a ratings sensation for Britain’s Sky 1, making it one of the UK’s top-rated pay TV series this season.  In the most inclusive talent search on television, amateurs with raw talent of any age group from across the nation (either performing solo or in a group) can audition any form of dancing-from ballroom to break dance, bhangra to ballet and tap to tango.  The most talented and entertaining dancers will be invited to audition for Abdul and her panel of experts, all world-class dancers themselves.  The very best will perform live in the Semi-Finals and Finals, where they will battle for the right to be crowned GOT TO DANCE champion.

GOT TO DANCE is based on a format created by Princess Productions and Shine TV and is produced by Reveille.  Elisabeth Murdoch, Howard T. Owens, Mark Koops, Robin Ashbrook, Anthony Dominici and Paula Abdul are executive producers.  Distribution is handled by Shine International.

KATIE HOLMES, WILL SMITH AND JADA PINKETT SMITH, ANGELA LANSBURY, MARK SANCHEZ, DANIEL RADCLIFFE, PAULA ABDUL AND STANLEY TUCCI HAVE BEEN ADDED AS PRESENTERS ON “THE 64TH ANNUAL TONY(R) AWARDS,” TO BE BROADCAST LIVE FROM RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL IN NEW YORK CITY, SUNDAY, JUNE 13 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Katie Holmes, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Angela Lansbury, Mark Sanchez, Daniel Radcliffe, Paula Abdul and Stanley Tucci have been added as presenters on THE 64TH ANNUAL TONY(R) AWARDS, live from Radio City Music Hall, Sunday, June 13 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET; delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The awards honor theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway.

As previously announced, actor Sean Hayes (“Promises, Promises) will host the awards show. The evening will feature performances by Green Day, “Glee” stars Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, and performances by the Tony-nominated Best Musicals “American Idiot,” “Fela!,” “Memphis,” “Million Dollar Quartet,” and the Tony-nominated Best Musical Revivals “La Cage aux Folles” featuring Kelsey Grammer, “A Little Night Music” featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones, and “Ragtime.” Casts from the musicals “Come Fly Away,” “Everyday Rapture,” and “Promises, Promises” will also be performing throughout the evening.

Previously announced presenters for the 2010 Tony Awards include: Antonio Banderas, Justin Bartha, Patrick Breen, Laura Bell Bundy, Laura Benanti, Cate Blanchett, Michael Cerveris, Kristin Chenoweth, Viola Davis, Michael Douglas, Kelsey Grammer, Brian d’Arcy James, Rosemary Harris, Patrick Heusinger, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony LaPaglia, Laura Linney, Lucy Liu, Jan Maxwell, Idina Menzel, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Matthew Morrison, Chris Noth, Bernadette Peters, David Hyde Pierce, Eddie Redmayne, Tony Shaloub, Liev Schreiber, Denzel Washington and Raquel Welch.

The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television.

This year marks the 64th anniversary of the Tony Awards, which were first held on April 6, 1947, in the Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Ballroom. It will be the 13th year that the historic Radio

City Music Hall is home to the Tonys. The ceremonies are presented by Tony Award Productions, which is a joint venture of the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing, which founded the Tonys in 1947.

The Tonys were founded in memorial to Antoinette (“Tony”) Perry, the American Theatre Wing’s World War II chairperson. The winners are selected by the governing board of Actors Equity, The Dramatists Guild, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the United Scenic Artists, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, the Casting Society of America, the American Theatre Wing and members of The Broadway League.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producers. Weiss will also serve as director for the 11th consecutive year.

RATING: To Be Announced

PAULA ABDUL NAMED EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CREATIVE PARTNER, MENTOR, COACH AND LEAD JUDGE OF UPCOMING CBS REALITY-COMPETITION SERIES “GOT TO DANCE” (working title)

Paula Abdul, an award-winning dancer/choreographer, dynamic performer, multi-platinum recording artist and popular entertainment personality, has been named an executive producer, creative partner and lead judge for GOT TO DANCE (working title), a new reality-competition series for CBS. She will also serve as coach, mentor and advocate for contestants during the performances and elimination process, providing critical input and guidance while sharing her experience with hopeful contestants.

GOT TO DANCE is based on the British hit that debuted earlier this year and has been a ratings sensation for Britain’s Sky 1, making it one of the UK’s top-rated pay TV series this season. In the most inclusive talent search on television, amateurs with raw talent of any age group from across the nation (either performing solo or in a group) can audition any form of dancing—from ballroom to break dance, bhangra to ballet and tap to tango. The most talented and entertaining dancers will be invited to audition for Abdul and her panel of experts, all world-class dancers themselves. The very best will perform live in the Semi-Finals and Finals, where they will battle for the right to be crowned GOT TO DANCE champion.

“I’ve spent the better part of my life teaching, mentoring, nurturing—working with so many talented people—and I consider myself truly blessed to be able to continue to do something that I hold so dear to my heart,” Paula Abdul commented. “I am thrilled to be creative partners with Reveille, Shine, and CBS and to present the best new dance talent to American audiences. Each and every week we’ll showcase the challenges and successes of a fantastic group of dancers, as they perform and compete—compelling stories, exciting competition and amazing dance performances are guaranteed.”

“Paula is the perfect fit for GOT TO DANCE…an accomplished dancer, choreographer and popular entertainment figure, she has a real appreciation for the talents our dancers will bring each week,” said Jennifer Bresnan, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, CBS Entertainment. “As a creative partner, her expertise will provide great insight and a nurturing, creative energy both behind the scenes and on camera.”

“There is no better creative partner for GOT TO DANCE than Paula Abdul, and Reveille is thrilled to be working with such a great talent on her highly anticipated return to TV,” said Howard T. Owens, Managing Director at Reveille. “Like Paula, GOT TO DANCE embraces and encourages real people with real talent. Paula personifies the spirit of GOT TO DANCE and brings aspiration, compassion and mentorship to the franchise. Her commitment to the contestants and the series is a game changer.”

In a successful career that spans more than three decades, Abdul has sold over 60 million records worldwide, and earned Emmy, Grammy, American Music and MTV Awards. Abdul has conquered the gamut of entertainment after beginning her career as a highly sought-after choreographer and dancer for films, television and music videos. She then segued into an award-winning recording artist, and most recently became a much-celebrated television personality, especially in her eight-year role as a mentor and judge on “American Idol.”

The additional expert judges, as well as information regarding auditions, will be announced at a later date. Details on the audition process will also be available on CBS.com.

GOT TO DANCE is a Shine Group format, created by Princess Productions and Shine TV and is produced by Reveille. Paula Abdul, Elisabeth Murdoch, Howard T. Owens, Mark Koops and Robin Ashbrook are executive producers. Distribution is handled by Shine International.

For all official news and Paul Abdul information, go to www.paulaabdul.com.

Paula Abdul attends the American Music Awards luxury lounge in Los Angeles

Singer Paula Abdul attends the American Music Awards luxury lounge held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Parry/Getty Images for Media Placement)
Content © 2009 Getty Images All rights reserved.

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