SHERMAN OAKS WOMAN MAY BE NEXT IDOL.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

Not long ago patrons of Antonio's Pizzeria in Sherman Oaks may have noticed Katharine McPhee dining at a table because of her dark-haired good looks. Now they're placing a name with that pretty face.

McPhee is among the 24 semifinalists in the smash new edition of ``American Idol.'' The singer will be competing on the show tonight against 11 other female contestants, with the men's derby airing Wednesday.

With ``Idol's'' fifth season crushing the competition for Fox, McPhee is going to be under a big spotlight. Last week, the show had 27 million viewers, nearly double the number tuning in to the Winter Olympic Games on NBC.

The 21-year-old McPhee, who lives in Sherman Oaks, has been singing since she was a toddler. As a student at Notre Dame High School, she and older sister Adriana were known as the McPhee Sisters, often appearing together in campus musicals and plays.

``When she wanted to take dance lessons, I wanted to take dance lessons,'' McPhee said the other day from a secret ``Idol'' location, a hotel where contestants are sequestered during filming.

``We were never competitive. My mom always taught us to put family first and be protective of each other. I'll always cherish those memories of us on stage together.''

Music and stage run in the family. McPhee's mother, Peisha McPhee, is a vocal coach, actress and cabaret singer.

``I loved singing ever since the second grade when we had a Christmas show and I remember being so proud and wanting my teacher to come hear me and see all the stuff she taught me,'' said Katharine McPhee, who studied musical theater at the Boston Conservatory and had the title role in the musical ``Annie Get Your Gun'' last March at the Cabrillo Music Theatre in Thousand Oaks.

``Annie's'' director James Mellon had been a friend of the McPhees, and Katharine had sung at Mellon's NoHo Arts Center for New Thought. She was barely out of her teens when Mellon tabbed her to play sharpshooter Annie Oakley for the Thousand Oaks-based musical theater company.

``James told the producers, 'I have somebody for Annie, but you won't know her. I have a girl who is really perfect and I think you need to see her,''' said Kevin Bailey, Mellon's partner who also played Annie's love interest, Frank Butler, in the production. ``She came in and blew everybody away.''

In the summer of 2005, Mellon again recruited McPhee to play the daughter of Mrs. Muir in the world premiere of the musical ``The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.'' Asked whether McPhee might be up for a return appearance in NoHo, Bailey laughed and said: ``I'm not sure we could afford her.''

``In addition to being a fabulous stage performer, she has a voice that won't quit,'' said Bailey. ``She's actually got top music chops. She now has the enviable problem of having a choice between which side of business she wants to pursue or pursue both.''

But first McPhee will have to face the ``Idol'' elimination process. After the women perform tonight, the phone lines open and viewers get a chance to vote for any of the dozen female contestants. The men will perform Wednesday. On Thursday, two men and two women will be eliminated based on viewers' votes. Each week contestants will perform again and another round of eliminations will take place until a final winner is announced May 24.

``She knows this is a huge opportunity whether she wins or loses - there is no losing in this,'' said mom Peisha, who is currently recording her next CD and has summer dates booked in Los Angeles and New York. ``And whatever happens at the outcome, it's all fantastic exposure for her so she can continue on as the gifted artist she is.''

But if the buzz is to be believed, Katharine McPhee will be around for a while. Entertainment Weekly has already tabbed her as one of its favorites, with the comment, ``Have you heard that voice, Kelly Clarkson?'' McPhee fan sites have already popped up on the Internet, and she's a hot topic on ``Idol'' fan Web pages.

``Getting here was the longest audition process I've ever had in my life - and it's still going,'' said McPhee, who performed the standards ``God Bless the Child'' and ``My Funny Valentine'' as part of her audition. ``It's been crazy. I've never been through anything as strenuous - waiting around and having to keep your mouth shut and not speak up.''

McPhee said she learned long ago not to let nerves - or ``Idol'' judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and resident meanie Simon Cowell - throw her off.

``I'm not intimidated by Simon,'' the friendly brunette said. ``Most of the time, I really respect what he has to say. He can be really harsh, but he hasn't done anything life-damaging. I feel like there's no time to waste by being thrown by anyone. It takes confidence and a certain type of personality to want to be in the limelight.''

Sometimes, she likes to stay out of the spotlight, listing such cozy Sherman Oaks trattorias as Il Tiramisu and Antonio's Pizzeria as places she and her boyfriend like to frequent.

``I like the non-Hollywood places where I walk in and they know my name because I've lived here all my life,'' she said. ``I love that old-time feel.''

Asked to name a personal idol, McPhee points to ``Singin' in the Rain'' actor/choreographer Gene Kelly.

``I admire what he accomplished so much,'' she said. ``He was able to keep out of the limelight enough to have a personal life and a successful marriage. To me, an idol is someone who can keep their personal life in check as well.''

Staff Writer Evan Henerson contributed to this story.

Fred Shuster, [phone]

fred.shuster(at)dailynews.com

AMERICAN IDOL

Where: Fox (Channel 11).

When: 8 p.m. today and Wednesday.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) ``American Idol'' contender Katharine McPhee

(2) The game heats up tonight for the ``American Idol'' contenders left in the race, above, as they face a major two-night derby with their fates determined by phoned-in audience votes.

Box:

AMERICAN IDOL (see text)