With varying outfits and backgrounds, men descended on the Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club to exercise their emotions on Saturday, Jan. 5.
All arrived with the same hope: to find love in a good woman.
Representatives from ABC’s “The Bachelorette” hosted an open casting call at the health club for the upcoming ninth season of the series.
A new experience
Due to confidentiality reasons related to the casting process, last names of applicants are being withheld from publication.
Peter, 27, of Maple Shade, donned a flashy animal print suit for the occasion.
He decided to apply following a nudge from his mom.
“My mom told me it’d be a good opportunity for me,” he said. “She saw it online.”
Peter, like many of the other men, had never tried out for a spot on the show before.
“I thought I’d give it a try,” he said. “I’m always looking for new experiences.”
Mike, of Sewell, had similar sentiments.
“I wanted to find a new experience with meeting women,” the 25-year-old said. “I’m getting tired of the same old women who don’t really know what they need or want.”
The woman on the show, he said, would likely be “more independent.”
Barak, an actor, traveled from Brooklyn, N.Y., the day before he welcomed his 25th birthday, in hopes “to write a fairy tale.”
“I’m looking for that fairy tale love,” he said, quickly adding, “I like long walks on the beach.”
Ryan, a 23-year-old Cherry Hill resident, said he wants to branch out in the romance department.
“I’m honestly kind of tired of looking for girls in Jersey,” he said. “They get a little old.”
“I’d like to try something new,” he added.
Plus, he said, “I personally like being in the spotlight.”
The process
Prior to the event date, Brian Kosa, the general manager of the health club, said he would love to see someone from South Jersey be included in the national cast.
Casting Producer Melissa Chappius, who lives in the area, said this was the first time Cherry Hill lay host to the program.
“My nephew plays basketball here,” she said. “It’s a great facility.”
Applicants arrived, filled out applications, had their photographs taken and went in for a short interview.
Chappius then sent the materials to the Los Angeles office for the final decision to be made from the West Coast producers.
“We’re looking for charming, charismatic guys with good personalities,” she said.
The men, vying for one of 25 spots on the show, she said, have to be ready to “take a leap of faith.”
The bachelorette star of the program has not yet been disclosed, she said.
“Everything’s in the process,” she said.
Casting calls are held in several cities, but men who missed the Cherry Hill date can send in taped submissions.
As for Peter, Mike, Barak and Ryan, as well as the other men who applied, a notice should be sent from the producers by the end of January, said Chappius.
Total submissions, she said, varies.
“There are quite a few,” she said.
Online
Learn more about “The Bachelorette” by visiting http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelorette.
Find out more information on the Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club by visiting www.chhrc.com.
