Hannah McIalwain of Asheville is contestant on ‘The Glee Project’

Story here from the Charlotte Observer:

A commercial changed Hannah McIalwain’s life.

The Queens University sophomore was home in Asheville for Christmas break when she saw an ad for “The Glee Project” – a reality-TV competition where contestants vie for a recurring spot on the hit television series “Glee.”

Casting directors were holding an open call in a week – halfway across the country.

That didn’t stop McIalwain. She immediately went to her computer and booked her flight to Dallas.

More than 40,000 applicants auditioned through open castings and MySpace videos. But she took the chance.

“I just had this feeling in the pit of my stomach, like, ‘I have to do this,’ ” the 20-year-old said. “There was no doubt in my mind…I just knew (‘Glee’) was the perfect fit for me.”

“Glee” debuted in fall 2009 and quickly became a darling of critics and fans. The musical comedy follows the trials of a high school glee club as it fights its way through singing competitions, friendships and the halls of McKinley High.

McIalwain got the callback two weeks later. She was one of 83 competitors to make it to the second round of auditions in Los Angeles. There, she became one of 29.