Broadway Features and Reviews
Grease Gets American Idol Star
By Broadway Magazine Staff
Grease may not have landed a Tony Nomination for "Best Revival" this week, but the cast and producers are no doubt smiling as they have landed an idol at Rydell High. It has been announced that the Soul Patrol will be rolling onto Broadway this summer, as American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will take the stage in Grease with Max Crumm and Laura Osnes.
The affable and optimistic Hicks won audiences with his combination of soulful sound, singular dancing style, and unlimited energy and authenticity. These are qualities that should translate nicely into his new role in Grease. Hicks is a stand-out at working a crowd, and this Broadway production of Grease seems well suited to his talents.
Hicks will be featured singing "Beauty School Dropout," a number made famous in the iconic film when it was performed by Frankie Avalon. Like the show itself, the song is an audience favorite, a fact that is not lost on Hicks. "It's a big number, and, you know, I've made some pretty grand entrances before," Hicks told The Associated Press. "And this one is probably the grandest entrance I've had in my career." In the article, Hicks is also quoted as seeing this as "the opportunity of a lifetime."
Following in the path of Clay Aiken, Fantasia, and Diana DeGarmo, and Frenchie Davis as former American Idol contestants who have made a home on Broadway. Idols traditionally fare well on Broadway, and Hicks demographic appeal should line up perfectly with the Broadway summer tourist season. Though the revival did not have universal praise, the production remains a fan favorite. Having cast its leads last summer in an "American Idol"-style audition process, the show has long survived its casting gimmick to become a genuine hit on Broadway with audiences. Hicks will no doubt bring additional audience members nostalgic not only for the musical, but also for his time on American Idol.
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