Auditions at Sears Centre for “The X Factor”

We know, from watching American Idol, that suburban singers possess that certain something that can make them stars — that X factor.

That should help them this week during tryouts for FOX’s new singing competition show, “The X Factor.”

Auditions will be Wednesday at the Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, in Hoffman Estates. Registration is required, and begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Solo singers or groups, ages 12 and up (unlike “Idol,” for which the minimum age is 15) are invited to audition. Those who come will get to use state-of-the-art studios to audio- and video-record their a cappella audition and state why they think they have what it takes to be a global superstar.

Big crowds are expected, as Hoffman Estates is the only audition site in the Midwest.

The “X Factor,” a show created by ex-”American Idol” Judge Simon Cowell, is a hit show in the U.K., where it launched the careers of stars like Leona Lewis. This year will be the first season of the show’s American version, and it is scheduled to air this fall.

The winner of “The X Factor” gets a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

For more information on the audition process, call the hotline at (855) 345-5678 or visit thexfactor.blogs.fox.com.