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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, June 14, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 12, 2004 The line starts here for next season�s �American Idol� hopefuls. Dozens of aspiring performers showed up at Medford�s Vogel Plaza Friday to take the microphone and get registration materials for the opportunity to perform before judges. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli They’ll sing an ‘American’ tune Dozens turn out for registration information of television talent contest preliminary By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune If Jennifer West ever comes face-to-face with ornery "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell, she says she won’t hesitate to give him a dose of his own medicine. "I don’t take kindly to sass," said West, 24, of Medford. She and dozens of others with dreams of facing Simon, Paula and Randy on national television took their first steps toward stardom Friday night during a kick-off party for the first Southern Oregon Idol contest. Auditions for the local event won’t begin until next month, but that didn’t deter a flock of hopefuls from taking the microphone Friday night for a warm-up. Some were pleased with their practice performance, while others felt they could have done a little better. "I was awful," said Tiffany McGuire, 16, of Grants Pass. "You can’t hear yourself up there because the music is so loud. It would have worked better a capella." Advertisement Lucky for her, the first round of local auditions, held July 20-23 at the Jackson County Expo, will have contestants performing a two-minute song, a capella. Callback auditions will be July 24, with the contest finals scheduled for the first week of August. The winner of the local contest will advance to a real audition for the fourth season of "American Idol." Friday’s event was the first chance for hopefuls to register for the contest. Singers must be between the ages of 16 and 24. Those who did not make the kick-off party can pick up registration packets beginning Tuesday at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater box office or the offices of KMVU-TV Fox 26 at 820 Crater Lake Ave. in Medford. Completed registration materials and a nonrefundable fee of $10 can be turned in to the Craterian any time from Tuesday through July 9. Michael Winne, 42, of Medford, knows he’s too old to compete in the contest, but sang in the plaza Friday night anyhow. His song choice? "Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad" by Meatloaf. "I’m a big ‘American Idol’ fan," Winne said. "It’s free karaoke, so I’m here." Unlike Winne, Dawna Crocker, 16, of Selma, will be singing in next month’s auditions. Judging from the crowd’s reaction Friday night after hearing her rendition of "Without You" by the Dixie Chicks, Crocker ought to fare pretty well. "I could have done better, but I felt it was pretty good," she said. Crocker is also a fan of "American Idol," although she sometimes has difficulty getting a signal for the local Fox affiliate from her Selma home. "I just love Kelly Clarkson (the show’s first winner)," Crocker said. "I love her music and look up to her, because she’s the same as me. She followed her dream and made it. I hope I can, too." For more information, call the Craterian at 779-3000 or KMVU-TV at 772-2600. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times