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Contestant Rules and Regulations

  • Contestants of all ages are eligible to audition. Parent/guardian must be present with contestants under the age of 18. Parent/guardian must provide his/her digital signature on the online registration if any performer is under 18 years of age.
  • Contestants must live, work, worship, attend school or hone your talent in Morristown, Morris Township, or Morris Plains OR be a Morristown High School alumnus.
  • If your act consists of multiple members, at least 1 member of the act must live, work, worship, attend school, or hone your talent in Morristown, Morris Township, or Morris Plains OR is a Morristown High School alumnus.
  • Professional entertainers are not eligible. A professional is anyone whose main livelihood is from the type of performance entered in the competition.
  • No Morris Educational Foundation sitting Board member or Morristown Onstage committee member or their immediate family is eligible to audition.
  • All acts will have a FOUR (4) minute limit.
  • Background music is allowed for accompaniment only. Vocals are limited to background only, no lead vocals allowed. If applicable, contestants will be required to submit a digital audio recording of their background music. Lip sync and karaoke are not permitted.
  • Equipment provided: piano, speakers with phone/ipod hook-up, and microphone. Contestants must bring everything else to the auditions.
  • A sound system will be provided the evening of the show. All contestants must use the sound system provided. Bands must use MPAC amps and drum kit. Individual amplifiers will not be permitted the evening of the show. 
  • The use of batons, pyrotechnics, dangerous equipment or live animals is prohibited.
  • All acts must be appropriate for family and TV audiences.
  • All contestants must audition in person at Morristown High School on Saturday, December 2, 2023. 
  • Prior to auditioning, all acts must read and acknowledge their agreement with the Media Release form.
  • Auditions submitted after Nov. 12, 2023 must pay a registration fee, which is is $20.  Registration fees can be paid by cash, check, or credit card at morristownonstage.com.
  • The Morristown ONSTAGE Selection Committee will select up to 16 acts. Finalists must notify the selection committee immediately if unable to perform on the day of the competition.
  • All contestants must perform the same act of audition day with the same persons, on show date, February, 29, 2024.
  • Finalists MUST attend Media Day on January 6, 2024.
  • Finalists understand that their promotion of the event is critical to its success. Leading up to event night, finalists are required to promote (via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) Morristown ONSTAGE and their participation in the event to help sell tickets to their network, in accordance with provided marketing and communications guidelines and tools.
  • Finalists are required to sell at a minimum of 2 playbill ads.
  • On Februrary 29, 2024, show day, there is a dress rehearsal.  Depending on show order finalists will be required to be at the Mayo Performing Arts Center either in the morning or afternoon.
  • The show will be judged by a panel of professionals from the performing arts field and they will choose the Winner 18 and Under and Winner 19 and Over. Judges will score the finalists on overall talent, showmanship and creativity and their decision is final. The audience will choose the Audience Choice winner.
  • Cash prizes will be awarded approximately 1 week after the show.
  • All rules will be strictly enforced. Any violations will result in immediate disqualification.

At its discretion, the governing committee of Morristown ONSTAGE may modify these rules at any time without notice. Any changes to the rules will be considered final.