A new karaoke series on the LES lets you belt out show tunes with Broadway performers

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.

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.