Mercury Musical Developments and Stiles + Drewe, in partnership with Broadway Licensing Global, have announced the star-studded cast that will appear at this year’s Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize, which will be celebrated in concert at The Other Palace on 2 December.

This one-night-only gala, hosted by Olivier Award winner Jenna Russell, will showcase outstanding new musical theatre writing talent with a selection of songs from exciting new shows in development.

The concert will also celebrate recent new British musical successes, featuring songs from hit shows Becoming Nancy, Cable Street, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and 42 Balloons.

A panel of industry judges, including Chris Bush, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe and Joanne Benjamin will award the prize for the winning song and the winner will receive £1000 towards developing their work. An additional prize for Voice, Vision & Potential will be awarded.

The performers appearing will be Allyson Ava Brown (Hamilton, Les Misérables), Cassius Hackforth (Something Rotten, From Here To Eternity), Charlie McCullagh (42 Balloons, Jesus Christ Superstar), Dan Partridge (Kinky Boots, Grease), Desmonda Cathabel (Aladdin, Miss Saigon), Jodie Jacobs (Kathy and Stella Solve a Murder, Hello Dolly!), Lauryn Redding (Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Bloody Elle: A Gig Musical), Liv Andrusier (Fiddler on the Roof, RIDE), Natalie Paris (Pretty Woman, SIX), Obioma Ugoala (Frozen, Hamilton), Samuel Barnett (Rock Follies, Ben and Imo), and Tim Howar (Rock of Ages, The Phantom of the Opera).

The songs in contention for the Best New Song Prize are: ‘The Temptation of Me’ from Proud by Mark Anderson & Lee Freeman, ‘I’m Going To Stay With You’ from The Tale of the Gifted Prince by Lezlie Wade & Dan Green, ‘It Starts Small’ from Unfolding by Emma Vieceli, ‘Ideal Robot Assistant’ from A.I. Will Solve All Your Problems by Leo Mercer, ‘Someday My Prince Will Come’ from Queering the Canon by Cheeyang Ng & Eric Sorrels, ‘Viareggio’ from Lifeboats by Gus Gowland, ‘Die Like Trees’ from Girl Goes to the Underworld by Sam Norman & Bela Kawalec, ‘Hero’ from Man Vs Snake the Epic Musical by Stuart Matthew Price & Daniel Fletcher, ‘Spread a Little Joy Around the Place’ from Retail Therapy by Hilmi Jaidin, ‘Locked Away’ from The Queen is Mad by Amy Clare Tasker & Tom McGrath, ‘Drek!’ from Otto's Weidt's Brush and Broom Workshop for the Blind by Amir Shoenfeld & Caitlyn Burt, and ‘Invisible’ from Hatched! by Lydia Shaw & Edward Court.

For more info on the 2024 Best New Song Prize concert, please click here.