MTV News reports the New York City stop of the auditions, the fourth of six, tempted “hundreds of aspiring actors” into the cold to stand in line for hours outside the Knitting Factory.

“Today we’re looking for – it may sound cliché – but someone who’s going to really pop,” casting director Bernie Telsey told MTV News. “And what I mean by that is they’re going to have the sort of voice that’s just going to be so original and make you want to keep listening.”

Whoever lands the role will have some big shoes to fill. The lyrics and music for “Spider-Man” were written by Bono and The Edge and the production is being directed by Julie Taymor (“The Lion King,” “Across The Universe”). Roles up for grabs include Parker, Watson and a yet to be named female villain.

“Specifically, it’s gotta be a rock and pop sound that very much matches the Bono and Edge kind of music,” Telsey explained. “[That’s] different than most musical-theater projects we worked on. So that’s what we’re looking for: someone who just has that sort of soaring voice.”

And get this “American Idol” fans: Until he signed up for “Idol,” Adam Lambert was the leading contender for the role of Peter Parker. Without even auditioning.

Maybe if he doesn’t win, he’ll get the part anyway. After all, he does have an extensive background in musical-theatre.

MTV News notes Lambert began his theatre career on the stage at San Diego’s Children’s Theatre Network (now called the Metropolitan Educational Theatre) when he was 8-years-old.

“He came in as a little squirt, maybe a third-grader and stayed with us through his teens,” said Kathie Urban, the non-profit theater’s executive producer, whose late husband, Alex H. Urban, was the first to spot and nurture Lambert’s budding talents. The organization, which runs four children’s theatres in Southern California, accepts aspiring young thespians with no auditions and puts on two to four full musicals a year.

During his time there, Lambert, appeared in shows like “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and “Big River” and played both male leads in “The Secret Garden.”

Lambert’s history in theatre raises an interesting question. In the early years of “Idol,” singers with previous professional or even semi-professional backgrounds were often disqualified from the competition.

Other competition shows like “So You Think You Can Dance?” also disqualify contestants who have a professional or semi-professional history, because it often means they have a previous relationship with people connected to the show.

So here’s your chance to weigh in on the matter. Is it fair to the other contestants when someone like Lambert is allowed to compete?

 

For complete information on the Chicago and Austin auditions for “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark,” visit SpiderManOnBroadway.Marvel.com.

To read MTV News’ story on Adam Lambert’s theatre background click here.