The Niswonger Children’s Hospital’s annual Broadway-style benefit is back by popular demand.

The event pairs local children with Broadway performers for a concert that is truly one singular sensation.

On Wednesday night, the first of three regional auditions was held at East Tennessee State University. The second audition will be March 11 at 5:30 p.m. in the music room of Sullins Academy in Bristol, Va. The final audition will be on March 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Annie Hogan Bird Theatre on the campus of Tusculum College in Greeneville.

From the auditions, judges will select five finalists, including one featured soloist, who will be invited to perform with four professional Broadway stars in an evening of entertainment at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville on April 25. A number of extras will also be chosen from among the auditioning performers to take part in the show’s ensemble cast.

The event is backed by the Mountain States Foundation and presenting sponsor Consumer Credit Union.

“This show benefits a lot of sick children,” said Cookie McKinney, manager of Children’s Initiatives at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. “These dollars go straight to the hospital”

As she spoke to the children waiting to audition on Wednesday night, McKinney invited them to visit the children’s hospital and walk around so they could see how truly important the work the hospital does is.

“When someone asks you why you are doing this show, I don’t want you to say ‘I don’t know,’ I want you to be able to tell them how important it is,” McKinney said. “This is about healthy children helping sick children. You being here tonight shows you already support the Niswonger Children’s Hospital.”

The children’s hospital in Johnson City serves a population of more than 200,000 children in 29 counties across four states, McKinney said.

“The reason we established this Broadway show was so we could feature you, the children we serve,” she said.

Among the 16 children who auditioned on Wednesday evening were two girls from Carter County — 11-year-old Alexis Heath, who attends Hunter Elementary School, and her friend 10-year-old Katrina Clark, who attends Central Elementary.

While the girls are young, they are not newcomers to performing or auditioning for shows. Alexis and Katrina have been singing since the age of 3, and both began taking vocal lessons when they were 9.

“We have a vocal group we go to,” Katrina said.

The two have also auditioned for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital’s Broadway shows before.

“This is my third time,” Alexis said.

“This is my second time,” Katrina said.

Both girls enjoy performing and that is part of what brought them to the auditions on Wednesday night.

“I’m surrounded by music all the time,” Alexis said. “I just love singing.”

But, just the chance to perform was not all that brought the girls.

“I like knowing that I can help people,” Katrina said.

While the girls are quick to tell you they love to sing, picking a favorite song is a little more difficult for the pair.

“I like’ Titanium,’ ” Katrina said. “I sing that all the time. It’s so catchy.”

Alexis took longer to come up with her answer. “ ‘God’s Not Dead,’ ” she said.

For her audition, Alexis performed the song “Maybe” from the popular musical “Annie” and Katrina chose “I Need A Place” from “The Secret Garden.”

Once all the auditions are completed, McKinney said the families of the children selected to perform will be notified and rehearsals will begin.

The Broadway performers scheduled to lead “Broadway Comes to Greeneville” are David Elder, Beth Leavel, Gary Mauer and Elizabeth Southard.

Elder has performed in many shows, including “Titanic, the Musical,” “White Christmas,” “Mary Poppins,” “42nd Street” and “Guys and Dolls.”

Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics awards for “The Drowsy Chaperone” and has performed in “Hello Dolly,”  “Steel Magnolias,” “Young Frankenstein,” “42nd Street” and “Mama Mia!”

Mauer has performed as the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera,” as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables” and in “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” “Show Boat,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Pirates of Penzance.”

Southard has performed in “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Show Boat,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Mikado” and “Three Penny Opera.”

Tickets for the event are on sale at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville and are $35.