Musicals in the Media: AMERICAN IDOL

Musicals in the Media: AMERICAN IDOL

By Kathryn Harris on February 16, 2010
On March 9, AMERICAN IDOL finalists Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young will be amongst the new cast members of HAIR when the original cast reprises their roles in London. DeGarmo and Young are no strangers to musical theatre. DeGarmo was recently seen off-Broadway in THE TOXIC AVENGER and in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway, while Young starred in the Broadway and national tours of GREASE.




Diana DeGarmo starred in THE TOXIC AVENGER--from playbill.com

Diana DeGarmo starred in THE TOXIC AVENGER--from playbill.com



DeGarmo and Young aren't the first AMERICAN IDOL contestants to take on the musical stage.  Over the past 8 seasons the show has been on the air, nearly 20 finalists have lent their talents to musical theatre.  Adam Lambert understudying Fieryo in WICKED, Fantasia starring as Celie in THE COLOR PURPLE, Frenchie Davis and Tamyra Gray performing in RENT, Anthony Fedorov starring in THE FANTASTICKS, Clay Aiken in SPAMALOT,  and Reuben Studdard in AIN'T MISBEHAVIN are only a few AMERICAN IDOL alumni who have been seen on Broadway or in national tours.  And of course, Jennifer Hudson gave a stunning performance as Effie White in the DREAMGIRLS film, winning an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the role.

AMERICAN IDOL finalists have given much to Broadway, and will likely continue to do so.  Which AMERICAN IDOL alum would you like to see in a Broadway show?  Which role do you think they'd be perfect for?




Clay Aiken in the final Broadway cast of SPAMALOT--from playbill.com

Clay Aiken in the final Broadway cast of SPAMALOT--from playbill.com