"American Idol" judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell keep telling contestants: "It's all about song choice."
But more than 50 hopefuls auditioning Saturday to sing the notoriously difficult "Star Spangled Banner" had no choice.
Composer Francis Scott Key's circa-1814 national anthem spans an octave and a half, and that's the main reason some major league ballparks (like Boston's Fenway) stick to prerecorded renditions. But at Clipper Magazine Stadium, the action was live (and lively) as people ranging in age from 5 to 75 grabbed the home-plate microphone and belted those famous verses about "the rockets' red glare" and "the dawn's early light."
They sang to a bunch of empty seats and a huge flag flapping on the stadium's 120-foot flagpole, which also serves as a cell phone tower. The second round of auditions will be held Saturday, April 5.
Tyler Schwebel, 5, of Willow Street, auditioned last year and got invited to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on his birthday last June. This year, he's shooting to sing the anthem itself.
"I learned the words when I was 3," said Tyler.
With 70 home games, there are still 70 open slots. Barnstormers public relations director Adam Aurand said, "The rule of thumb is, everybody has to audition." But over the past three seasons, special performers such as John Darrenkamp, Jefferson Starship and Nicole Brewer, Miss Pennsylvania 2005, saw that rule waived.
The anthem has been tackled locally by everyone from St. Peter's Ringers (a bell choir) to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre's cast of "Peter Pan."
This year's auditioners included retirees, students, teachers, travel agents, cable guys and even a "door greeter" from Women & Babies Hospital.
"Some are obviously better than others," said Susan Eby, 56, a Lancaster insurance underwriter who auditioned last year without getting a call-back. "But I love to sing this song and I'll just keep coming until I get there."
As sprinklers sprayed water across the outfield and a team on a John Deere tractor unrolled fresh turf, auditioners proved that everyone could reach some of the notes some of the time, but not all of the notes all of the time.
"It's sort of difficult to know what key to start on," said Rebecca Voler, 10, of Reinholds.
Just when a judge might start thinking "it's a little pitchy, dawg" — one of Randy's favorite phrases on "Idol" — a group like the eight-member ensemble from New Song Fellowship Church or the barbershop quartet "4 P.M. Curfew" stepped up and hit the song out of the park.
All comers were judged by three Barnstormers insiders, closeted out of sight in the press box: director of customer service Kaye Willis, group events coordinator Ben Peifer and marketing assistant Pam Denlinger.
"It's nerve-wracking if you forget a word because everybody knows the lyrics," said Randall Frizado, 34, of Manheim Township. Frizado, who played Horton in the national tour of "Seussical the Musical" and is in rehearsals for American Music Theatre's summer show, auditioned because: "I love baseball, and singing the anthem means so much."
"I've been singing for the Senators (Harrisburg's baseball team) since 1987," said Paul Stillwagon, 60, of Harrisburg. "Last year, I came to a game in Lancaster and I liked the stadium. I'll be coming to a lot of games this summer whether I'm singing or not."
Stillwagon paused and listened to the singer who came after him gulp a breath and struggle to reach "the home of the brave."
"It's fun to do this," he added. "But it's not an easy song to sing."
Marty Crisp is staff writer for the Sunday News. Her e-mail address is mcrisp@lnpnews.com.
