CHILDHOOD DREAMS ARE FULFILLED WHEN CONTESTANTS PERFORM LIVE TWENTY YEARS LATER, IN THE ABC SPECIAL "REDISCOVERED"

Donny & Marie Host

Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell and JC Chasez were all discovered as kids by casting director Matt Casella. Chosen from among 100,000 hopefuls, these amazing talents went on to superstardom. But countless others waited for a call back that never came -- until now. Casella has an entire generation of auditions on videotape, and now almost 20 years later we're going to find them and give them that special moment in the spotlight that they've dreamt about since they were kids. Hosted by superstars Donny & Marie, "Rediscovered" airs TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 (9:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

In "Rediscovered" we'll look back at the original casting tapes of five aspiring child stars. Contestants' identities will be revealed when they step into the spotlight and perform in front of a live audience in an electrifying production at the famed Orpheum Theatre.

"This show is about making childhood dreams come true," says executive producer Dave Broome. "What makes this show so different is that, unlike other competition shows, none of our contestants applied. We tracked them down, surprised them, and plucked them from their daily lives for this once in a lifetime chance."

Contestants who have been chosen to be "Rediscovered" include a banquet manager from Orange County, California, an insurance marketer from North Carolina, a holistic therapy salesman from Las Vegas, Nevada, a real estate assistant from St. Louis, Missouri and a building contractor from Los Angeles, California. The chosen few will be flown to Los Angeles with their families to perform live in front of an audience, after which the live studio audience will pick their favorite.

Also revealed will be Casella's never-before-seen audition footage of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, Jessica Simpson, Keri Russell, JC Chasez and many more celebrity childhood auditions from 15-20 years ago. The winner will receive a grand prize of $50,000 and an additional surprise from Donny & Marie themselves.

Dave Broome ("The Biggest Loser") and Matt Casella ("The All New Mickey Mouse Club") are executive producers of "Rediscovered," which is a production of 25/7 Productions.

A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to the airdate.