Who Will Reign as Broadway.com's Star of the Year for 2012? Vote Now!

Every year, fans choose Broadway.com’s Star of the Year from a list of nominees that is typically top-heavy with theater vets. But 2012 has been a breakthrough year for Broadway newcomers, which means that only one of the five candidates chosen by our editorial staff is an established headliner. All of the nominees have talent and stage presence to spare, and now it’s up to you to decide which of the five deserves to reign as Star of the Year for 2012. Vote below!

The nominees, in alphabetical order, are:

James Corden
For proving that great stage acting isn’t limited to dramatic roles with his side-splitting, no-holds-barred, Tony-winning comic performance in the British farce One Man, Two Guvnors.

Lilla Crawford
For taking the pressure-packed title role in Annie—including three major songs in the show’s first half hour!—and making it look easy, blending pint-sized charm with an adult-sized belt.

Jeremy Jordan
For his star-is-born leap from a fast-closing musical (Bonnie & Clyde) to one of the year’s biggest hits (Newsies), sealing his reputation as Broadway’s most charismatic young song-and-dance man. A high profile role on TV's Smash is also on the horizon.

Steve Kazee
For bringing romance back to Broadway with his soulful, beautifully sung performance as an Irish busker in the Tony-winning musical Once, plus a hot duet (with Christina Perri) in the final Twilight flick.

Audra McDonald
For giving a fearless, towering performance in one of the most demanding musical roles ever written, Bess in Porgy and Bess, winning an astonishing fifth Tony Award and cementing her spot in Broadway history.