Jan 12, 2005 By Rebekah Sungala 4 min read

ROSTRAVER TWP. – Dressed in sweat pants, a winter jacket and a grass skirt, Dayne Williams stood patiently, waiting for his turn to record a three-minute audition tape for “Survivor” at the Get-Go convenience store along Route 51. Dozens of people lined up behind him, despite the frigid temperature and rain.

The self-proclaimed “Survivor” junkie said he has seen every episode of the reality TV show.

“I told my wife that I was going to audition if tryouts were held close enough to where we live,” the 30-year-old West Newton native said.

A manager said 200 to 300 people were expected to show up at the Belle Vernon GetGo between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“This is the first time we’ve ever taped auditions here,” the manager said. “It doesn’t seem like the weather is going to keep people away. I guess they have to get used to it if they want to be on ‘Survivor.'”

Williams said the weather wasn’t even a factor: “I’ve been planning this for a week. I even have a costume on.”

Williams unzipped his jacket, proudly displaying the coconuts strapped to his chest and the lei around his neck. He also wore a leopard-print loincloth.

“I don’t see anyone else with a costume on. Hopefully, it helps me,” he said.

The line moved forward slowly, and Williams stepped inside the tent where the auditions were being taped. Minutes later the crowd heard a loud roar come from the tent.

“Did you hear Daddy?” Williams’ wife, Lisa, asked their 5-year-old daughter, Alexis, as the two stood next to the tent, peeping in through gaps in the tarp that covered the tent.

Williams said he wanted to prove to the “Survivor” producers who will review the audition tapes that he can adapt to anything.

“I told them I could be a hula dancer if I needed to be,” he said. “Then I showed them I could dance.”

Williams said he already had his strategy thought out if selected to be on the 11th season of “Survivor.”

“I would lay low at first, see if I couldn’t get together with some other people. Then, further along, I’d really start playing the game. But first I would lay low.”

Janet Anzur, 69, of Jeannette, Westmoreland County, said she already had her strategy figured out, as well.

“I would play it sneaky,” she said.

Anzur said she can keep up with any person half her age, and that she was on a senior citizen softball team in Florida.

“I want to be the first older person to win a million dollars in ‘Survivor,'” she said. “I’ve been active all my life. I grew up with two brothers, and we played rough and tumble.”

“Anyone can be a contestant on ‘Survivor,'” said Barb Donaldson, 41, of Allenport.

Like Anzur, Donaldson said she has seen every episode. Both women said they would eat a bug if they had to, something that’s been required of some “Survivor” contestants.

“I’d eat a bug for a million dollars,” Donaldson said. “I’d jump off the highest cliff. I’d do anything for it.”

According to “Survivor” rules, contestants will be notified if they are eligible for the second round of interviews by late February. The in-person interviews will be held at locations nationwide, including Pittsburgh.

Third round interviews will be held in Los Angeles in April.

Sherri Zavallo, a 21-year-old college student said she would be more than willing to travel to Pittsburgh. If selected, she said, she’d be more than willing to travel across the world.

The Bentleyville native said she decided to try out because she wanted to know if she could make it.

“If I didn’t try I would never know,” she said, adding that her family is extremely supportive. “They’d like to see me on ‘Survivor.'”