American Idol Contestants that should make it to Broadway

[FinallyAmember]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 3:41pm

In response to anti-Latoya London and American Idol contestant comments on another thread, I decided to start this thread. Which people from the past season of the show do you think should head to broadway. You don't have to cast them, but you can. After looking at all the contestants, this is my list:

Tamayra Gray needs to come to Broadway.
Christina Christian - season 1 (Ain't No Sunshine girl)
Kimberley Locke - season 2
Kimberly Caldwell
Ricky Smith
Vanessa Olivarez (Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray for sure.. she just has that personality)
Amy Adams (phenomenal in Joseph Tour, should definitley come to broadway. She has great stage presence)
Jennifer Hudson - no explaination needed, she got kicked off way too early
Latoya
Jessica Sierra - she could make a good Julia in Wedding Singer
Nadia Turner
Ace Young
Katherine McPhee
Melissa McGhee

Posted: 10/8/06 at 3:49pm

What are you basing your criera on? You don't know if any of these people can even act. Isn't that important anymore?

As for Christina Christian, she has zero power and would need one powerful microphone to get through a show.

Melissa McGhee had one appearance in the top 12, forgot her lyrics on live tv, couldn't cover at all, badly stumbled through her song and later admitted she had no idea what the song even meant. She deserves to make it to Broadway?

Nadia Turner's one crack at musical theater showed that "As Long As He Needs Me" lyrics went right over her head as she presented it as a bluesy woman empowerment number and was horribly flat on several of the big notes. She's not ready either.


Updated On: 10/8/06 at 03:49 PM

[FinallyAmember]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 3:54pm

I'm basing my choices on vocal performances, and overall charisma. I think both are important and equally contribute to a good performer. I see many people on stage that lack the charisma and stage presence that these people can exude merely on TV. Seeing them on TV lessens all of that; I can only imagine what it would be like to see them on stage.

As for Melissa McGhee. She may have screwed up that performance, but her semi-final performances were good. She has a great voice, and there something about her that makes her very memorable in my mind.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 4:02pm

Tamyra Gray has already made her Broadway debut in Bombay Dreams.

[Luckydave14]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 4:09pm

From your list, only Jennifer Hudson and Katharine McPhee deserve to get on Broadway. You can see Hudson in the Actor's Fund concert of Whorehouse in a few weeks.

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 5:47pm

I love American Idol. But I think they should stay far away from Broadway, it annoys me...sorry :)

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 5:50pm

I agree. It is a singing competition not an acting and dancing competition.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 6:00pm

good point

but i still think Fantasia Barrino could pull off a mad Rafikki in TLK... :)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 6:07pm

"Vanessa Olivarez (Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray for sure.. she just has that personality)"

I think you are talking physical type, not personality. Tracy is a very specific physical type, and Olivarez fits into it. Nice try at justification, though.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 7:58pm

Um...Vanessa Olivarez has already played Tracy in the Toronto cast of Hairpsray, and was quite good. Her voice was incredible and her energy was great.

And yes I would love to see Katherine McPhee on Broadway. In a role that shows of her assets...by which I mean her voice, and her GREAT rack. Lady of the Lake maybe? or a sluttified Elphaba?

Akiva

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:02pm

I actually think that the American Idols have done well in stage productions. It seems like they can help shows and can perform well.

Is this everyone?

Diana DeGarmo- West Side Story, Brooklyn, Hairspray
Jennifer Hudson- Actors' Fund Concert's, Dream Girls Movie
Constantine Morulis- Rent, The Wedding Singer
Tamyra Gray- Bombay Dreams
Frenchie Davis- Rent
Amy Adams- Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Vanessa Olivarez-Hairspray
Josh Strickland-Tarzan (I don't remember him from American Idol.)
Katie Webber-Wicked Updated On: 10/8/06 at 08:02 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:06pm

Angela Peel - Lion king tour - Nala

[FinallyAmember]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 8:52pm

"It is a singing competition not an acting and dancing competition."

Just because they are entered in a singing competition doesn't mean they can't act or dance. Last time I checked, people can have more than one talent. By starting this thread I was convinced many of these people could be good on broadway. You may disagree, but I have my feelings. This thread is based on opinion. And you're comment may be a fact, but it doesn't mean that they CAN'T dance or act...

[Kaykohl]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 9:17pm

I also think Katharine McPhee would do well on Broadway. I also, think Lisa Tucker who is 17 and has been acting in local stage productions would do well. I think I remember reading somewhere that she did the Lion King. When I read in another thread about who should play Ariel in the Little Mermaid, I immediately thought of Lisa.

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 10:06pm

I think Carrie Underwood could be a good Amber in Hairspray. However, she probably wants to focus on her triple-platinum CD Career and tour, etc. Rather than not even being a "star" in a show. If she was offered star position in a Broadway show.....it could be a possibility maybe. However, I am not sure if she can act/dance. But singing-wise I think she could perform a good Amber VonTussel.

I also wonder how Diana DeGarmo would do as Elphaba in Wicked.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 10/8/06 at 10:09pm

I think it's time to stop the game show contestants from being cast in Broadway shows. There are plenty of other actors who do not appear on these game shows. They should not have to worry about losing out on a job because of a game show.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 12:14am

Remember they have to sing 8 times a week
not once on TV
I wanna see
Clay as Edna.

[OddExoticCreature]

Posted: 10/26/06 at 9:55pm

Why should people who chose to make a career move by auditioning for a high-profile singing competition automatically be shunned from the world of live theatre? Of course nobody should be cast in a Broadway show unless they deserve it, unless they are able to sing (and sustain), act, and dance if needed. But what makes the people who audition for American Idol somehow cheaper than those people who try to get on Broadway in any other way?

[RainbowHigh2]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 12:13am

Whatever happened to the Broadway Idol contestants - did Jaclyn ever have her show at Ars Nova?

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 1:24am

I'd like it if the American Idol contestants start out as the ensemble members. If they get a walk-on role, then I'm totally against it.

[christine_c]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 3:14am

There was a guy back in the third season named Jon Peter Lewis. I'm not sure how well he acts (though, I know he did some acting when he was younger, but I'm not sure whether it was professional or not) but he had a nice voice and was very entertaining.

[BlueforBroadway]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 7:39am

Carrie Underwood, blech. She is a wooden statue on stage. I doubt very much she could act or dance good enough for Broadway. I saw her on the American Idol Tour in 2005 and during her setting is when I went to the bar. Boring.

Of course, I am a bit biased. See my avi pic.

Posted: 10/27/06 at 8:02am

my opinion on american idol stars coming to broadway, USUALLY a BAD idea!!! unless they actually have a musical theatre background, chances are they shouldnt be on broadway. sure, SOME, but very few could still do great, but then theres people like bo bice, who im sorry, but would NOT be good on broadway. im just not a huge fan of the idea.

i will say though that i was pleasantly surprised with constantine, but hes had a musical theatre backgroud so that helped.

[Norma D]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 9:34am

Clay Aiken--anyone? I think he has the most terrific voice--always sounded kind of musical theatre-ish to me.
Mandisa--was my favorite last season--too bad her song choice was so wrong on the country music night--I don't know if she could act but WOW what pipes she has!!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 10/27/06 at 10:27am

Lisa Tucker was a young Nala in the early LA run of The Lion King. She might have been a talented child but her performances on American Idol demonstrated that she grew out of that. Vocally she is a bust. I wouldn't walk to the end of my porch to see her in anything.