article from Pennlive.com

'Idol' audition's reality: long lines, slim chances
'American Idol' hopefuls chase stardom at audition 'Idol' hopefuls give voice to their dreams at audition

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
BY LI WANG
Of The Patriot-News

PHILADELPHIA - Even in the pitch dark of 4:45 a.m. Monday, it was easy to see signs of madness in south Philadelphia.

A backup had developed on the Interstate 76 off-ramp to get to the Wachovia Center for the last round of tryouts for season seven of "American Idol."

Instead of waiting, hordes of young women, eager to become the next Kelly Clarkson, abandoned the drivers of their vehicles and walked, some in platform shoes, along the narrow space between the guardrail and cars.

The madness continued on the road, as cars aggressively closed in on the arena, bearing license plates from places such as Michigan and Manitoba.

All for a needle-slim hope of being chosen for the Fox reality show to be aired in January.

The wannabes were coming for 30-second auditions in front of producers and musicians affiliated with the show. Only 100 to 200 of Monday's participants will eventually make it in front of the big three: Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul.

Some slept on the concrete, some howled for the cameras, and others tried hard to keep up the energy with mediocre renditions of "Lean on Me" or "Chain of Fools." It was clear why cantankerous tell-it-like-it-is judge Cowell has so much ammunition.

Contestants who were allowed to start lining up at 5 a.m. eagerly tried to get the attention of the media. Television crews from the local Fox affiliate and national news channels aimed their cameras on the rowdy but well-mannered crowd. A handful of performers shined during impromptu a cappella takes for TV and radio stations.

Jesselle Rodriguez, 19, of Reading, was one of the hopefuls near the front of the line, which spilled over into a penned-in area in the parking lot where many waited in fenced-in sections just like cattle. Fox officials estimated more than 17,000 singers and supporters turned up for the audition.

Rodriguez had been camping out since midnight. "I finally got the guts to do this, so I figured I would make sure that I was going to have the chance to perform," she said.

Miranda Tozier-Robbins, 24, of Fitchburg, Mass., hoped that the third time was a charm. She already tried out in Foxborough, Mass., and Orlando, Fla.

"Last time, Simon said that I sounded too childish and Paula said she felt like she was in a schoolyard," said Tozier-Robbins, who writes about her "Idol" aspirations in a blog at idolfeverdeux.blogspot.com. "So this time, I am going to bring a more mature sound."
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