Broadway's Todrick Hall Earns Spot in Top 24 on American Idol

Broadway veteran Todrick Hall, who appeared in The Color Purple, has been chosen as one of the Top 24 contestants on American Idol. The 24-year-old singer was revealed as one of the top choices of the judges on the February 16 episode of the top-rated talent show.

Hall, who starred in The Color Purple on Broadway alongside American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, will now appear on live episodes of the show and will be voted on by the viewing public as he fights to earn a coveted spot as one of the 12 finalists.

During the episode, Hall revealed that he never took voice lessons, and was instead trained as a dancer. He also recounted that he was encouraged by Barrino backstage at The Color Purple to try out for the show: "I was just intrigued by the thought that if she didn't go to that audition, she might still be singing in a church somewhere in North Carolina."

In addition to his acting, Hall is a playwright, director and choreographer. He most recently wrote and staged OZ, the musical, an updated version of The Wizard of Oz that played around the country and has starred American Idol veterans Diana DeGarmo, Mikalah Gordon and Vonzell Solomon. In addition to The Color Purple (in which Hall appeared in the ensemble and was an understudy for the role of Harpo), he appeared in The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

Although many American Idol contestants have made their way to Broadway after appearing on the show, Hall is the first Broadway performer to make the Top 24 on the show.