'X Factor' premiere: Westchester's Carly Rose Sonenclar to audition

Wednesday September 12, 2012 3:00 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Getty Images | Carly Rose Sonenclar attends the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Family Screening of "Hoodwinked Too" at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea in Manhattan. (April 23, 2011)

With new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato joining Simon Cowell, anticipation for Wednesday night’s season premiere of “The X Factor” is high. But local viewers especially have reason to tune in as a local singing star is among those auditioning.

Carly Rose Sonenclar, a 13-year-old Mamaroneck resident, is among the hopefuls who performed for the judges at the Providence, R.I., auditions in late June. But Sonenclar is no amateur. She has an impressive number of theater credits, including roles in the Broadway productions of “Les Miserables” and “Wonderland: The Musical.”

She is also a cast member on PBS’ “The Electric Company, and has appeared in the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2” and “The Nanny Diaries.” In addition to her busy career, Sonenclar finds time to take part in charitable causes, producing a show called “Carly and Friends” for Mount Sinai’s KidZone TV, a channel that broadcasts programming for patients within the children’s hospital.

In an interview with Newsday Long Island's Kidsday reporters on the set of Kidzone TV in June, Sonenclar said she knew she wanted to act when she “signed with a manager,” adding that that’s when she knew she “must have some talent.”

“I decided that if I’m good at this, that I might as well go ahead and for it, and do whatever I can do,” she said.

In a separate interview with Kidsday from last year filmed while Sonenclar was promoting her starring role in “Wonderland,” she said that she wants to pursue acting when she gets older. But depending on how well she does on “X Factor,” perhaps she’ll go for pop stardom instead.

According to the site mjsbigblog.com, which recapped the "X Factor" Providence auditions, the pint-sized singer performs the bluesy standard “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone for Cowell and company. Her performance is said to wow the audience and bring the judges to their feet. Sounds like Carly Rose will make Westchester County proud.

The two-part "X Factor" premiere airs on Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. on FOX.

Tags: Mamaroneck , Westchester , Carly Rose Sonenclar , X Factor , TV