Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: He auditioned for The Lion , the Witch and the Wardrobe at the same time as he auditioned for the role of Simon Brown in Nanny McPhee , but lost the role to Thomas Sangster .
Simplified: He auditioned for The Lion , the Witch and the Wardrobe at the same time as he asked for the role of Simon Brown in Nanny McPhee , but lost the role to Thomas Sangster .