Muny Karaoke returns for its third year, sponsored by the Muny and the Post-Dispatch. It's open to any and all singers - except June 26, a kids-only night - who want to show their musical-theater chops.

They won't exactly sing on the Muny stage, but lucky contestants will get the chance to sing near it, on the Lichtenstein Plaza at the top of the free seats before the show.

Here's how it works:

It's first come, first sing, from 7 to 7:45 p.m. before four Muny shows.

Come early, take a number and you'll boost your chance to perform. Performers will get two minutes, tops, to show their stuff.

Singers can choose from a selection of show tunes offered by the Great Pretender Karaoke and DJ Co.

We'll shoot video of each contestant each night. Then our panel of judges will choose the best and post them on STLtoday.com. Website visitors will vote for the singers they like best.

Each week's winner will receive a package of Muny vouchers, good for four tickets to a show of his or her choice later in the season.

After the four weekly winners have been chosen, they'll compete against each other. Once again, readers will vote, choosing the champ.

The grand-prize winner gets a package of prizes: an autographed copy of "The Muny: Songs of St. Louis Summers" by Post-Dispatch theater critic Judith Newmark, four tickets to a 2010 Muny show of his or her choice, a preshow backstage tour and a preshow dinner for four at the Culver Pavilion.

Muny Karaoke

Where - Lichtenstein Plaza, outside the Muny free seats.

When - 7-7:45 p.m., before four shows

- June 26, before "Beauty and the Beast" (Our kids-only competition. Contestants must be 18 or younger, with parental consent.)

- July 7, before "Titanic"

- July 15, before "Damn Yankees"

- July 22, before "Cats"