By BRYON SAXTON

Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau

OGDEN -- Clinton resident Corinne Nelson knew going into Saturday's auditions that the competition would be older and would have more stage experience.

Because of that, the 15-year-old West Point Junior High student said, she was a bit intimidated.

But after auditioning before Lagoon officials for a summer job, Nelson, who sang in the school musical 'Oklahoma,' said she felt good about her performance and would continue to perform whether or not she was selected for the job.

Nelson was one of 100 area performers expected to audition from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Weber State University Browning Center for singing roles in one of two lagoon summer shows.

About 80 young people auditioned last Saturday at Salt lake Community College for the parts, witlt 120 more expected to audition next Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at tlte Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City.

Lagoon Entertainment Operations Manager Alex Leeman said competition for the roles is keen, with nearly 300 applicants competing for the 20 spots.

"It's fun, especially with the 'American Idol' thing starting this week," Leeman said of the youth -- accompanied by a smattering of parents -- who lined the hall of the Browning Center outside Room 38.

The performers, some in tennis shoes, others in ties, were anxiously waiting, some to perform two short musical numbers showing a contrast in their vocal ranges, others to present a one-minute dance routine.

"You can never prepare enough," said Johnny Baker, a 22-year-old from Layton who sang the BarrY Manilow hit "Copacabana."

Baker, a graduate of Northridge High and an accounting major at Southern Utah University, said he came to the auditions simply because he loves to perform. "Just a passion, I guess."

Bountiful resident Nicholas Berg, a 24-year-old Brigham Young University student performing in the university's production of "The Music Man," also spoke of his love for performing and the competition that comes from it.

"I think it went all right" said Berg, a premed student whose audition included an improvised dance number he performed with Lagoon choreographer Jenny Tingey. "You always think you can do better," he said,

Lagoon Entertainment production manager Brittani Brown, after seeing about 20 performers, expressed pleasure at the level of talent the job search was attracting.

"A lot of great local talent. I love that," said Brown, who was anticipating a difficult selection process with only 20 spots available.

"The competition is pretty tight," she said.

By the first week of February, Brown said, she hopes to have the performers selected, not including the park's seven-piece roaming band and those who perform in Frightmares, both to audition at a later date.

With the auditions, Brown said officials are hoping to find teens who can perform contemporary hits in the popular "Rock U2 to the Top" show, geared for a younger audience.

A group of more mature young people is also needed, Brown said, to perform in the park's production of "Hooray for