The lights … the sounds … the applause! If the Broadway stage is the place of your dreams, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has an offer that could come close to making your dream come true.

Neil Berg's "100 Years of Broadway" will lead off UW-Parkside's' Arts Alive! performance series in September. And the show's producers are auditioning singers to perform along side Broadway stars during their performance.

Whether you've had professional voice training, or you just love to sing, you are welcome to give it a shot. All you need is access to a computer, a few uploading skills and a good song.

Auditions for Neil Berg's "Singing with the Broadway Stars" are done online, where hopefuls can upload a 90- to 120-second video of himself or herself, singing a Broadway tune, to YouTube, MySpace or Facebook. Industry professionals will review the videos and choose up to two winners - and up to 10 runners-up - to participate in the show, which will take place in the university's Communication Arts Theater on Sept. 22. The deadline to submit videos is Sept. 11.

"The fun thing about this is that the professionals in this show are real Broadway stars - performers who have either recently been on the Broadway stage or are currently performing in a Broadway production," said Dwight Vaught, the special events coordinator who put together the 2009/2010 Arts Alive! series. "This is not a tribute show."

Five Broadway stars, from hit musicals such as "Phantom of the Opera," "Les Miserables," "Chicago" and "Jekyll and Hyde" will take the stage at Parkside for "100 Years of Broadway" and some lucky local talent will be right there by their side, singing.

Typically, "Singing with the Broadway Stars" chooses one winning contestant - who sings a solo number during the show - and a number of runners-up, who will sing one chorus number with the stars, Vaught explained. All runners up and winners will receive a pair of tickets to the show and a free CD of the performance, according to "Singing With the Broadway Stars."

Contest rules say that contestants must be 15 years or older, but Vaught said that those doing the auditions are considering lowering the age limit to include middle school students, as there have already been a number of inquiries from singers in that age range. There is no upper age limit for contestants, he said.

A complete list of contest rules, along with instructions for submitting audition videos to the Internet ,is available at:http://www.singingwith thebroadwaystars.com

The Arts Alive! lineup

Neil Berg's "100 Years of Broadway" is one of 10 different shows that make up the 2009/2010 Arts Alive! series. The rest of the season offers a wide range of entertainment including dance, comedy and lots more music. Here's a taste of what's to come after the opening show:

Nov. 4 - Barrage: Animado!. Animado is Spanish for lively and the cast of this show delivers that and more in a fusion of cultures, dance influences and musical styles.

Nov. 23 - The Second City: 50th Anniversary Tour. Chicago's legendary improvisational comedy troupe will bring its newest touring show, which "mines comedic gold" from a half-century of politics, entertainment and media.

Dec. 21 - Glenn Miller Orchestra, U.S. Holiday Tour. This world-famous big band, which was formed in 1956, plays an average of 300 live dates a year. It will bring its spectacular Christmas show to Arts Alive!

Jan. 7 - Guitarist Robert Michaels and Flamenco Dancers. Canada's most accomplished Latin guitarist creates "a sound so intense the audience holds their breath," according to the Toronto Star.

Jan 27 - "Man: 1, Bank: 0", with Patrick Combs. This best selling author, inspirational speaker and comedian tells the story of how he deposited a $95,000 junk mail check and his bank took it.

Feb. 13 - The Nob Hill Boys Bluegrass Band. A Prairie Home Companion is just one of the many places this award-winning band has played. Their approach to bluegrass is traditional, but also features obscure musical gems.

Feb. 24 - "Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery." Actor Mel Johnson Jr. (whom you may recognize from major motion picture roles) portrays the life of Frederick Douglass - who has been called the father of the civil rights movement - in dramatic story and song.

March 23 - Celtic Crossroads. Back by popular demand, this group - formerly known as Music at the Crossroads - will bring a fresh version of its Irish musical show to southeastern Wisconsin.

May 8 - Pianist Di Wu, with the UW-Parkside Community Symphony Orchestra. One of the up-and-coming talents in classical music, Wu will perform solo piano works, as well as pieces with the orchestra. The night's finale will be George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."

If You Go

WHAT: 2009/2010 Arts Alive! Performance Series

WHEN: 10 shows from Sept. 22 to May 8

WHERE: Communication Arts Theater, at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 900 Wood Road, Somers.

COST: All seats for individual shows are $20. Season tickets are available for $200 general public; $188 seniors; and $165 students. All season ticket holders also get one free ticket to a show of their choice.

INFO: For tickets, go to http://www.uwp.edu (keyword tickets) or call (262) 595-2307.