American Idol’s Bo Bice to Lead Broadway Revival of Pump Boys and Dinettes

Eight years after coming in second place to Carrie Underwood on the fourth season of American Idol, Bo Bice will make his Broadway debut! The singer will lead the six-person ensemble of the upcoming Broadway revival of Pump Boys and Dinettes, according to The New York Times. The musical will open on April 8, 2013 at Circle in the Square Theater, with previews beginning on March 19.

John Doyle will helm the production, and in typical Doyle fashion, the Tony-winning director is having his actors double as the orchestra. Bice, along with cast members Alexander Gemignani (Sweeney Todd), Erik Hayden (Million Dollar Quartet), Justin Hosek, Jane Pfitsch (Company) and Leenya Rideout (War Horse) will play everything from the guitar, piano and bass to the harmonica and kitchen utensils.

Pump Boys and Dinettes is set at a gas station and roadside diner in a small North Carolina town. The musical’s book, music and lyrics were written by the original Broadway cast (John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann). The original Broadway production opened at the now-demolished Princess Theatre in 1982 and ran for 16 months, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical.