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USTA to Host Third Annual Open Casting Call for Children to Perform at the 2009 US Open

*WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 21, 2009 - *The USTA announced today it will host its annual open casting call on Monday, June 8 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City to select children to perform at the 2009 US Open, August 31 - September 13. Winners will perform live at Arthur Ashe Stadium during night sessions of this year’s US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

The auditions are free of charge and will be held from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. ET. Children 12 years of age and younger as of September 13, 2009, will be asked to sing “America the Beautiful” a cappella in front of a panel of celebrity judges from the music and entertainment industries including Diana Degarmo, the runner-up on Season 3 of American Idol, and Mark Indelicato, from ABC’s hit show Ugly Betty.

“The casting call has quickly become a popular US Open tradition as these young singers continue to captivate the New York crowds,” said Gordon Smith, Executive Director and COO, USTA.

The casting call will officially launch the US Open season, with tickets for the 2009 US Open going on sale to the general public the same day. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to USOpen.org or by calling 1-866-OPEN-TIX beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 8. Tickets can also be purchased on-site at the casting call at the Radio City Music Hall Box Office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The USTA will announce the final selections in mid-July. The winners will receive a US Open gift bag and tickets to their performance session — in addition to exposure in front of as many as 24,000 fans in Arthur Ashe Stadium. For more information on the open casting call, including the official rules, log on to www.USOpen.org

Posted on May 21, 2009
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