Thousands sleep on concrete waiting for chance audition for 'American Idol'

CLEVELAND (AP) _ An estimated 15-thousand people with dreams of becoming the next ``American Idol'' are spending the night camped out outside the Cleveland Browns Stadium. <br/><br/>Cleveland is

Wednesday, August 4th 2004, 9:38 am

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) _ An estimated 15-thousand people with dreams of becoming the next ``American Idol'' are spending the night camped out outside the Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Cleveland is the first city in the country to host auditions for the Fox television show's fourth season. The auditions begin at eight o'clock this morning. Many of the thousands who slept outside the stadium have been there since early yesterday morning.

``Idol'' producers will decide who in the Cleveland crowd will report to a second round of tryouts tomorrow. Then the executive producers will pick who auditions for judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell on August 14th and 15th at a city hotel.

The celebrity trio will decide who gets to go to the Hollywood phase of the auditions.

The show has produced instant pop stars, including the first idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, whose debut album ``Thankful'' went double platinum.