Hundreds try to be Eagles cheerleaders

Peter Mucha
Philly.com
March 27, 2013

More than 400 young women flocked to Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday with hopes of making the new Eagles cheerleading squad.

That squad will have even more interaction with fans this summer, now that some free practices will be held at the Linc, since the team is no longer using Lehigh University.

“The cheerleaders will be appearing at all of those practices and fans will have the opportunity to meet the cheerleaders, and get a photo as well as autographs,” said Barbara Zaun, director of cheerleading.

Expect new outfits to be unveiled for the coming season as well, she said.

After watching group dance routines Saturday, a panel of judges cut the field to 150, then, after further observations and conversations, chose 94 semifinalists.

**See gallery, “Eagles Cheerleading Auditions 2013.”**
[Note: only the first 15 or so photos are from this year’s auditions]

They’ll attend rehearsals tonight, to get ready for a private April 3 showdown at the NovaCare complex against 32 members of last season’s squad. Sixty finalists will be selected that evening with the help of season ticket holders whose names were drawn in a sweepstakes.

The public, however, will once again be invited to the final audition show, scheduled this year for Monday, April 22, at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. Tickets, $24 each, are available through the Kimmel Center’s website.

Three days later, most of the 38 winners will be at the Eagles Draft Party, a free annual event at the Linc, though a few squad members will be at the NFL’s draft ceremonies at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Zaun said.

Details about Eagles Draft Party tickets have yet to be announced by the team.