American Idol - A Ticket to Broadway?

Say what you will about reality tv but American Idol has contributed several fine performers to Broadway not to mention the amazing Academy Award winning performance by Jennifer Hudson in the movie Dreamgirls. The latest Idol alumnus to join the ranks is Clay Aiken who is taking over the role of the timid Sir Robin in Spamalot. Clay will make his Broadway debut on January 18th playing the role which has been played by David Hyde Pierce since the musical opened on Broadway in March of 2005. Also currently on Broadway is the fabulous Fantasia Barrino starring as Celie (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie) in The Color Purple. The news of Fantasia being cast in The Color Purple was met with trepidation but she proved herself to be more than worthy of the role. She received rave reviews from many of Broadway's most respected critics including Charles Isherwood from the New York Times who said she was "pretty terrific". "So terrific that this earnest but mechanical musical is more effective and affecting than it was when it yawned open a year and a half ago at the Broadway Theater." Other Idol veterans who have appeared on Broadway are Tamyra Gray in Rent and Bombay Dreams (a show which I adored; I thought she did a great job), Constantine Maroulis in The Wedding Singer (which, incidentally, is coming to Manchester's Palace Theatre from February 18 to March 1, 2008), Diana DeGarmo in Hairspray, and Frenchie Davis also in Rent.

So, you see, the American Idol alumni have made a generous contribution to the Great White Way. They've already garnered fans from the television show and made "names" for themselves which does sell tickets (in a way a sad commentary to the many gypsies who have pounded the pavement the hard way.) Maybe Clay Aiken (I must say I love 'im) will find his "holy grail" on Broadway. If he can pull off the show stopper at the top of the second act "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" (...You may fill your plays with gays/Have Nigerian girls in stays/You may even have some shiksas (non-Jewish girls) making stews/You haven't got a clue/If you don't have a Jew...) he's got it made. May his quest be a success.