The Search for the New Menudo is On National Casting Comes to Dallas on April 21

“Want to be part of the legacy that released 32 albums and sold over 20,000,000 records worldwide and sold out Radio City Music Hall for 13 consecutive nights? The search to recreate Menudo, one of the biggest and most successful Latin pop singing groups comes to Dallas on April 21st. The casting sessions kicked off in Los Angeles and additional castings will take place in Miami and New York through the end of April.

WHEN:
Saturday, April 21st
11:00AM – 4:00 PM

WHERE:
Valley View Center, 13331 Preston Rd., Dallas, TX 75240

WHO:
Renowned music manager, Johnny Wright
Recording artist, Luis Fonsi
Additional celebrity judges to be announced

RSVP:
By Friday, April 20th
Ricki Askin 212 846-7625 or Ricki.Askin@mtvstaff.com New York

ALL MEDIA MUST RSVP TO BE CREDENTIALED

Celebrity judge Luis Fonsi, along with renowned music manager Johnny Wright and others will be on hand to audition teenage boys on their natural singing and dancing abilities, charisma and stage presence. The auditions are open to males who are at least 15 years old and appear to be less than 19 years old. All contestants will be asked to sing a song, in English or Spanish, from a pre-selected song list available on mtvtr3s.com. A legal guardian who can sign a release must accompany contestants under 18. Complete eligibility requirements are available at mtvtr3s.com.

Once selected, Menudo will be part of the Epic Records family. The partnership between Epic and Menudo kicks off with a first single in July and the groups “debut” album in December 2007.

MTV TR3S will chronicle the entire journey of thousands from the first audition to the last, culminating with the selection of seven finalists in “Road to Menudo” which debuts on May 12. The road continues on MTV this fall when the band will dwindle down to the five final members of the new Menudo as the channel air the 10-episode reality series title TBD. Reveille, producer of the two-time Golden Globe winner and Latin crossover hit “Ugly Betty,” is producing the MTV series in association with Road Games.

MENUDO’S LEGACY

Menudo was the mega group that started the boy group craze. In 1977, Edgardo Diaz formed the first Menudo in Puerto Rico. The original group consisted of two sets of brothers: Carlos, Oscar, and Ricky Melendez and Nefty and Fernando Sallaberry.

The group targeted pre-teens and young teens and had a policy that as any member turned 16 he would be replaced by a new member. More than 30 different boys made up Menudo over its years of existence.This made Menudo the only truly revolving group and gave the brand staying power in its young market.

Menudo released 32 albums and sold over 20,000,000 records worldwide.

Over the years, Menudo toured worldwide and holds numerous attendance records including 13 consecutive sellout performances at Radio City Music Hall, 200,000 fans at the soccer stadium in Rio de Janeiro, and over 500,000 at a Mexico City concert.

RICKY MARTIN REMEMBERS HIS MENUDO DAYS

During a rare break from his Blanco Y Negro tour in Guadalajara, Mexico, Ricky Martin commented about his start with Menudo and what it meant for him: “Its incredible for me – a very important time in my life. It was the beginning of my career, it was my schooling. In Menudo I learned what was discipline. I learned what it was to work in a way so intense in order to achieve something I wish all who are involved in this project from the technical side to the talent side all the best. To the talent, take risks. Risk it, even if you think its ridiculous Just be yourself and dont fear what people will say – I think thats the key to success.” “

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