Hundreds of people waited hours outdoors on a sunny but cold Thursday to try out for two roles in Star Wars: Episode VII at the Park West in Lincoln Park. The line for open auditions, held between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., stretched from the venue’s entrance on W. Armitage all the way down Orleans and then west on Dickens.
This latest installment of George Lucas’ saga will be directed by J.J. Abrams and is slated for release in December of 2015. Guys need to be at least 18 and pass for 19-23. Women (who should be at least 16) must look 17 or 18, even if they’re older.
A small portion of the long line to audition Thursday for Star Wars: Episode VII at the Park West.
At least one hopeful, 26-year-old line leader Mike Shimon of Lansing, IL, began camping out at 1:30 a.m. Several, like Quinten Quintero, 27, clutched copies of their head shots or pages of the audition script.
“I’ve always been a really big star wars fan,” said Laura Valentine, 16, of Kildeer, IL, who waited with her mom Emma. “I love the movies, I love filmmaking and I love this story so much. I’m so glad Disney is continuing the legacy, and I would just love to be a part of it.”
