'Idol'-style play audition

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) -- Call it "Alpine Idol."
Aspiring stars strutted their stuff at a Belfast hotel Saturday, hoping to win the part of novitiate-turned-nanny Maria in a big-budget London production of "The Sound of Music."
But this was no ordinary audition. Those making it past the first rounds will compete for the approval of judges and viewers on a reality TV show offering a shot at stage stardom as its prize.
Britain's main acting union has labeled the "American Idol"-style talent contest "demeaning." However, composer-impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is co-producing the stage show, called it "a fantastic opportunity for a young artist to become a real star" in a role made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film.
The open audition in Belfast was the first in a series of tryouts around Northern Ireland and Britain.
"It's a brilliant musical," said Clare McMahon, 18. "I know all the words to all the songs." The knowledge paid off -- McMahon's lively rendition of "Doe A Deer" got her through to the second round of auditions.
The British Broadcasting Corp., which is producing the program, expects to see thousands of potential Marias at auditions in Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Cardiff over the next month. Ten finalists will be put to a public vote on a prime-time TV show, titled "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" after a lyric from the musical. The stage show is due to open at the 2,200-seat London Palladium in November.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.