What's Up, Diana DeGarmo? There's No Time for Idol Now That She's Rocking Out in Hair

After stints in Hairspray, The Toxic Avenger, the road company of Brooklyn and a regional production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Diana DeGarmo knows more than a little bit about rocking out onstage. Now the youngest American Idol runner-up ever is starring on Broadway in the granddaddy of rock musicals, Hair. As Sheila, the 22-year-old actress employs her big belt in “Easy to Be Hard,” “Good Morning Starshine” and more, establishing an easy chemistry with onstage love (and fellow Idol alum) Ace Young. Three weeks into her run, the bubbly DeGarmo talked about how the hippie spirit of Hair has changed her life.

It looks like the new Hair cast is having a great time on stage.
We are! I can genuinely say this experience has been life-changing. I love my Kyle [Riabko] and I love my Ace [Young], and the rest of the Tribe is just wonderful. The amount of talent on that stage will blow your mind. Together, we’re a force to be reckoned with.

The show has a fervent fan base. Have you and other newcomers felt accepted?
The transition has been really smooth. Everyone was a little nervous, me especially, because we know how amazing the original cast was. We wanted to do our thing, but be as respectful to Hair as a whole as possible. It means so much to have fans come up and say, “We love you guys just as much as we love the [original] Aquarius company.”

Did [original Sheila] Caissie Levy give you any advice?
I asked her about hitting the ground doing the “yips” on the floor. She said, “Oh, your hands are going to hurt every night.” And she was right [laughs]. She left me a little bottle of champagne and a sweet note. She said, “This show is going to change your whole lifestyle,” and it really has.

How so? Has the cast been overwhelmed by the spirit of love?
I love everybody, but I’m going home alone at night [laughs]. It’s practicing what you preach: If you’re out there talking about peace and love and harmony and protecting our earth, we as a Tribe are trying to do that. We’re putting together things to do for Earth Day—things like that. With other shows I’ve been part of, once the curtain goes down, it’s over. Hair is a 24/7 experience.

How did you and Ace Young develop Sheila and Berger's chemistry?
We hang out a lot, because you have to be completely comfortable on stage. We didn’t really know each other prior to this, but we’ve become really good friends. The first week of rehearsal, everyone had to do these character presentations; when Ace was doing his, he was asking for kisses, and I thought, “Sheila would kiss Berger!” So I just stood up and ran over and planted one on him. He’s my buddy, and I’m having a blast doing the show with him.

What about the nude scene at the end of Act One?
The first time was the hardest, of course. We waited until one of our final dress rehearsals to do it, which I appreciate; I don’t think I could have done it in the rehearsal room. When they finally said “Today’s the day,” it was nerve-wracking. You’re completely exposing yourself to an audience. But after the first time, it was so liberating, so freeing to just stand there and be who you are as a human being. It was beautiful, it really was.

Would you agree that Hair gives you more opportunities for acting than some of your previous shows?
Definitely. This is the first time I’ve really gotten to be a person, not a character—which at first was a little challenging. But once I tuned in to who Sheila is, I found out I had a lot more in common with her than I realized. I come from a line of really strong females, and I love that she’s not a passive person. And she’s patriotic, but in a different way. I come from a military family, and Sheila supports our military but she does not support war; there’s a difference.

Do you have a favorite song from the many shows you’ve done?
“Easy to be Hard” has become my favorite. It’s an amazing song to sing every night. I love that [Hair composer] Mr. Galt McDermot gave me his blessing to do my own version of it. I wanted to give a few really big notes in the second half. I felt it needed a big moment in which you see the heartbreak of this woman.

We’ve gotta ask: Are you DVRing and watching American Idol ?
I don’t have DVR in my apartment now, so I don’t get the chance to see it. I was watching when we were in rehearsals, but now I’ve totally missed the whole season. It’s so sad!