Ultimate Karaoke

Eat. Drink. Be Famous. That's the tagline for Spotlight Live, a 21st-century theatrical and restaurant concept located in the heart of Times Square, New York. Spotlight Live debuted on April 6 at 1604 Broadway. It is a concept restaurant that allows anyone (that's right anyone...maybe even Sanjaya) to perform live on stage for family and friends while dining.

The concept is the brainchild of Jen Worthington, entrepreneur and restaurant innovator, along with her brother, Paul Krug. Haverson Architecture and Design P.C., Greenwich, Conn., were brought on to design and execute the 22,000-sq.-ft. space. And since the real estate was already equipped with infrastructure to support a large restaurant and a theatrical component, transforming the space into the ultimate karaoke venue seems fitting. "Our approach to the design was to create a design vision built around the dream," said Jay Haverson, principal for Haverson. "Using lighting to create a theatrical focus for performers and allowing everyone to select their own lighting color from many of a changing color system, so that anyone has a chance in how to recreate the look of the room in which they perform.” A 26-in.-by-40-in. screen on the outside of the building on Broadway shows video of the performers inside Spotlight Live, and the video images inside and out are streamed online to Spotlight’s Web site and Ziddio--Comcast's YouTube-style video site.

For some, karaoke is one of those things you partake in on rare occasions and only if there's no chance of running into anyone else you know--or unless someone promises you a $50 bill. For others, it's performance heaven. If you belong to the latter bunch--and happen to be in New York--you may want to check out Spotlight Live. Embarrass yourself there before moving on to American Idol.

--Jessie Bove