‘American Idol’ winner coming to Springfield

The last time an “American Idol” winner played at Kuss Auditorium, the show sold out in three minutes.

That was in 2009, and the “Idol” winner was David Cook.

Now it’s Phillip Phillips’ turn to try selling 1,500 tickets in 180 seconds or less.

The most recent “Idol” winner, Phillips will play at Kuss at 7:30 p.m. May 16, the Clark State Performing Arts Center has announced.

The singer-songwriter with a double-platinum hit single to his name might just beat Cook’s time at the box office.

“He’s bigger than David Cook was at this point,” Stuart Secttor, the center’s executive director, said Wednesday. “I really think this will be a big deal.”

Tickets for the Phillips show will be limited to four per person, and will go on sale in person at the local arts center at 10 a.m. Jan. 23. Four hours later, at 2 p.m., tickets will be made available online at pac.clarkstate.edu.

Tickets are priced at $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for students.

The Cook show in 2009 — which sold out online before people waiting in line at the center even got a crack at tickets — led Clark State to institute a delay between in-person and online sales.

“It was the fastest I’d ever sold a show out,” Secttor said. “This may be as fast.”

Phillips, 22, remains on Billboard’s top chart with his debut single, the rootsy “Home.” Even after 28 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, it was still climbing, and most recently was ranked No. 6.

“His song, ‘Home,’ is all over the radio,” Secttor said.

Phillips won the 11th season of “American Idol” last year. The show’s 12th season started Wednesday night.

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