WANT TO ENJOY the talents of local singers from area schools? Or perhaps cast your vote in an "American Idol"-style competition?

Then come to the CU Bandstand, located at Market Place Mall. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

In addition to the singing event, there will be a local band performing '60s cover songs, a Corny Collins-themed host, and a chance to win tickets for the live "Hairspray" performance at the Assembly Hall on Nov. 29.

The area high schools represented include Centennial, Urbana, and Champaign Central. Audition deadlines and requirements were distributed to the Uni community by fine arts executive teacher Rick Murphy, though no Uni students took up the offer.

“Students are welcome to attend,” said Murphy in an e-mail reply to the Gargoyle. “My guess is that most Uni students interested in this type of program are already over scheduled — homework, the fall play, college applications, athletics, etc.”

CU Bandstand is the brainchild of students in in the U of I's Recreation, Sport and Tourism 300: Leisure Programming class, according to Jennifer Larson, Assembly Hall's assistant marketing director.

"They designed a promotional campaign to market 'Hairspray' to the public while encouraging the youth of the Champaign-Urbana community to participate in a revival of the days of the Bandstand,” Larson said in an e-mail message.

"Each group in RST 300 was instructed to create and implement a program plan for the local community, and the idea for the CU Bandstand was born. Thanks to cooperation by Market Place Mall, The News-Gazette and The Assembly Hall, we have been able to make this project an event not to be missed.”