Last Tuesday, A&E;editor Frank Stanko sat in on an audition for "The Diviners," which announced its casting today. In the first of a three-part series, he shares his observations.

The last remains of the star system may be hiding in the University of Dayton acting community. Only here can classmates seem like matinee idols and starlets.

Stargazers were out in full force at Tuesday's auditions for "The Diviners," directed by Louan Hilty. And making the experience even more surreal, fans and friends alike often found themselves auditioning together.

"I'm not sure how I did," senior Grace Stratton said. "I'm a bit rusty; it's been April since I last auditioned."

Stratton said she wanted to "get a lot of acting done this year," and joked about how, being a native Midwesterner, she could handle the Indiana dialect needed in "The Diviners." She also admitted an affinity to the character Jeanie Mae, who she said had a "sweet and plain" appeal to her.

The relative ease of playing those characters was apparent. Fifth-year senior Steve Kallenberg, who had to choose which group of friends to sit with after his audition, read the role of Pastor C.C. Showers with a particularly effortless Southern accent. Yet, he is unlikely to accept any part given to him.

"This year's the one with some of my most challenging classes," Kallenberg told Hilty and stage managers Emily Smith and Ed Larkin.

"You're here for six years anyway," Smith said back to him.

But Kallenberg isn't alone in his situation. Other experienced actors, like senior Chris Poeschl and junior Lauren Berndt, were required to audition. Acting teacher Kay Bosse made auditioning a class requirement.

Berndt, however, will accept any part she's given. Scheduled for spinal surgery in January, she understands the importance of getting as much experience as possible in a short time.

"I want to be on stage," said Berndt, who told Hilty she was OK with playing a boy. "I've done it before."

Only four men auditioned, and they were a diverse quartet. Besides Poeschl and Kallenberg, first-years Nick Albertson and Jonathan Golab read for nearly every male part.

Coincidentally, both often read together, their attributes - Albertson is blond, and Golab has glasses - sticking out further.

The fact that so many women auditioned concerned junior Lindsay Hill.

"It's rough coming back," said Hill, who spent last semester in France. "You're always trying to make a name for yourself, and facing a clean slate, wondering if they look at your prior parts and reputation [Hill starred in last September's 'Eurydice']."

"Plus, I'm not a theater major," Hill said. "I'm just so thankful they don't let that stand in the way of giving you parts."

In part two - what happens when all the auditioning actors are competitors?

In part three - a report from the trenches at callbacks.

And finally, stay tuned for an exclusive journal series, "Star Like Me," written by a "Diviners" cast member.