LOS ANGELES, US - A nationwide contest to win a part on TV musical comedy "Glee" is being transformed into a reality show of its own next year.

"The Glee Project", a multi-episode series to be broadcast on cable channel Oxygen in June 2011, will follow some of the tens of thousands of young Americans who already have sought a guest-starring role on the third series of the Emmy-winning show on Fox television, Oxygen said on Tuesday.

But there is still a chance to get before the cameras. Although 34,000 applications were submitted through MySpace earlier this year, Oxygen on Tuesday announced open casting calls in December and January in Chicago and Dallas.

"Glee", now in its second season, follows the triumphs and setbacks of a group of high school misfits in a show choir. The cast's cover versions of old hits, new pop, Broadway and hip-hop songs have sold millions of albums and regularly topped iTunes's download charts.

Oxygen said it was looking for singers, actors and dancers over age 18 who could convincingly play the role of a high school teenager.

Producers are still working on the format of "The Glee Project" TV show, which will see a select number of performers competing over several weeks for the guest role on "Glee."