The Morris Educational Foundation (MEF) has announced that two MHS esteemed alumni will be joining the judges panel for the 10th Anniversary show of Morristown ONSTAGE!

Ben Sesar, MHS Class of ’88, accomplished musician, author, teacher and speaker is the lead drummer for country music star Brad Paisley and has traveled the world.

Ben will join fellow MHS Alum, Aaron Velasquez, Class of ’10, and previous winner of Morristown ONSTAGE on the judging panel. Aaron, a successful beatboxer, is currently on a US tour after releasing his LP Bright Moments.

“We are beyond excited to bring back such amazing and talented arts professionals to help us select the winners for Morristown ONSTAGE,” says Molly Servais, Chair of Morristown ONSTAGE and member of the Morris Educational Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “It is extra special to have these two prominent artists as part of our 10th Anniversary show.”

The talent show will showcase the best amateur talent from Morristown, Morris Plains and Morris Township. The event is set to be held on March 1, 2017, 7 p.m. at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey. Auditions are scheduled to be held at Morristown High School on Dec.10. The deadline to register for auditions is Dec.1.

There will be a $1,000 cash prize for first place for contestants ages 19 and over, $1,000 cash prize for first place for contestants ages 18 and under, a $500 award for the “Audience Choice” Winner which will be voted on the night of the show, and a $250 Rossoff Rising Star Award given to a promising contestant by the Morristown ONSTAGE Committee.

This year’s Master of Ceremonies and host of the show will be Morristown-resident Tara Bernie, Emmy-nominated senior producer for NBC’s Access Hollywood and Access Hollywood LIVE.

“The Morris Educational Foundation is very excited about the 10th anniversary production of our talent show, Morristown ONSTAGE. We are proud to give our community’s local amateur talent an opportunity to perform in front of their hometown in a beautiful professional performing arts venue,” added Servais.

Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center is the event’s headline sponsor. Last year, the event raised $90,000 for the Morris Educational Foundation.