Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
A new karaoke series on the LES lets you belt out show tunes with Broadway performers
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Apr 7, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Sasha Aleshchenko / Courtesy of Sing with the Stars
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Apr 7, 2025
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A new weekly karaoke series lets participants belt out their favorite show tunes with actual Broadway singers.
The free event includes a rotating cast of professional performers at Baby Grand karaoke bar on the Lower East Side.
Harry Whelchel, a West Village resident, got the idea for the series back in December while attending a karaoke night hosted by his friend’s company. When he arrived at the venue, in K-Town, he learned there were several Broadway singers present who had been booked to sing with attendees.
He hadn’t planned on staying long, but said that when the karaoke started, the energy was “incredible.”
“I ended up staying for like three hours,” he said.
During the evening, he spoke with some of the performers and learned that many weren’t getting booked for private events as much as they’d like — hardly at all, in fact.
“I said, ‘Well, let’s see if people want to do more of this,” Whelchel said.
The answer was yes. Whelchel quickly accumulated a 300-person waitlist for a pilot version of the series, which he named Sing With the Stars. About a month ago, he pitched it as regular programming to Baby Grand, and the owner loved the concept.
From Sing With The Stars' first event, at RPM Underground.
Courtesy of Sing with the Stars
Now, Sing With the Stars happens every Monday night at Baby Grand’s Lower East Side location at 187 Orchard St. The event is free, with no cover or drink minimum and all songs are welcome, although Whelchel said most do end up being Broadway tunes. On any given night there’s an emcee and two rotating Broadway hosts.
Currently, there are about 25 performers on the roster, including singers who’ve been on Broadway in shows including “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Jagged Little Pill” and “The Book of Mormon.”
The waitlist, which is now more of a mailing list, has grown to some 2,000 people, according to Whelchel.
Whelchel said that guests need not be intimidated by the idea of singing with professionals.
“The energy is so supportive and encouraging and then the cool thing is you have these professionals who will sing backup with you or encourage you and it's not judgmental or, like, competitive energy, ” Whelchel said.
As for the event’s appeal to the pros, Whelchel said it provides a flexible source of income that allows them to perform, if on a far smaller stage than Broadway.
Whelchel said he’d love to see the event grow even further, and possibly book it in bigger venues — maybe even, one day, Madison Square Garden.
Sing With the Stars is every Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Baby Grand LES. It’s free but you need to reserve a spot. You must be 21 or older.
Tagged
new york city
broadway
Hannah Frishberg
Hannah Frishberg covers New York City arts and culture. Got a tip? Email Hannah at [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .