Urban Cowboy, the 1980 movie that sparked a national craze for large country dancehalls and mechanical bulls, will become a musical play. Aaron Latham, writer of the original screenplay, and Broadway director Phil Oesterman hope to open Urban Cowboy –- The Musical on Broadway in spring 2002, after a workshop run Oct. 23-Nov. 11 in New York. The collaborators will hold auditions for “Bud” –- the John Travolta role -– at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 at the offices of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, 1701 West End Ave., Suite 300, in Nashville. Actors should be 18-26 with “a strong baritone or high baritone vocal presence.” To audition, actors will sing “one strong ballad, but should have an extra ballad and an up-tempo tune prepared just in case.” 08/07/01