She’s got the X Factor: Charlotte Kerr wins inaugural Project X Grand Final

AussieTheatre and Broadway Unplugged are thrilled to announce Charlotte Kerr as the winner of our inaugural Project X competition!

Six vocalists took to the stage on Monday 29 April at The Vanguard in Newtown, all showing off their ‘X’ factor in the Grand Final of Project X – a singing competition which is designed to support and foster new talent in the musical theatre and cabaret realms.

Wollongong born Charlotte Kerr took out the top prize after wowing the six judges and capacity crowd with her renditions of ‘Murder, He Said’ and ‘Lilac Wine’, accompanied by musical director Bev Kennedy and ‘The Beverages’ band.

Kerr is thrilled to have won such an incredible array of prizes, including a headshot package from Blueprint Studios, an artists website from Emptyhead Designs and a solo cabaret show produced by James Anthony Productions and musically directed by Bev Kennedy.

“To be honest, when I first went to watch one of the heats for Project X I was overwhelmed by the standard – I wasn’t sure whether I was even good enough to enter the competition to start with” she told AussieTheatre.

“Winning felt strange and amazing. I’m really excited to work with Bev Kennedy especially”, she said.

Since attending one of Queenie van de Zandt’s workshops last year, Kerr had planned to work on her own solo material.

“I always had plans to put on my own show. Now this competition has given me the means to do it.”

“I have a lot of ideas – it’s just a matter of narrowing it down and sticking with some sort of theme. I do know I want my show to be somewhat reminiscent of an older, more traditional style of cabaret, but with a modern twist. I am in love with Judy Garland so I’m thinking of incorporating some of the songs she sang into the show.”

The five other finalists (Helena Wehbe, Paul Smith, Sebastian Lush, Amanda Hall and Coral Mercer-Jones) joined Kerr in the Grand Final after winning heats held over six months last year. 

The night was hosted by Fiona Sullivan with Musical Director Bev Kennedy and ‘the Beverages’ band providing wonderful accompaniment.

Project X is continuing in 2013 and the winner of the second competition will also receive a host of prizes. To enter the competition, eligible participants must register to sing at Broadway Unplugged’s open mic nights! 

Full prize list:

• Solo show at The Vanguard – Produced by James Anthony Productions (Musical Direction by Bev Kennedy)
• Mentoring and show development sessions with Margi de Ferranti
• A headshot and photography package courtesy of Blueprint Studios
• 5 weekly sessions of Image and Lifestyle Coaching courtesy of ByFerial Image and Colour Consultants
• A professional artist website courtesy of Emptyhead Designs
• A show reel production package courtesy of OnlineFootprint
• Publicity provided by AB Publicity

Visit broadwayunplugged.com.au for more information on upcoming events and competitions!