From Constantine Maroulis to Bo Bice: American Idol Season Four Finalists Love Broadway!

It’s no secret that American Idol alums often end up on stage (see: Diana DeGarmo, Ace Young, Justin Guarini, Frenchy Davis, Taylor Hicks, Clay Aiken), but when we heard that Bo Bice is headed to Broadway in Pump Boys and Dinettes, we couldn’t help marveling at the theater-centric career path of Season Four finalists, who competed in 2005. Maybe it was inevitable, since Idol actually had a “Broadway Week” that season! Let’s review.

Winner: Carrie Underwood
Arguably the most successful Idol winner of all time, country queen Carrie Underwood is making headlines for signing on to play Maria von Trapp in a televised version of The Sound of Music next year. Purists may scoff, but before Underwood landed on Idol, she starred in Oklahoma! while studying at Northeastern State University at Tahlequah.
Idol Broadway Week Song: “Hello, Young Lovers” from The King
and I

Second Place: Bo Bice
After Idol, Southern rocker Bice recorded three studio albums, toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd and settled down in Nashville with his wife and four children. Hours after it was announced that he will make his Broadway debut in Pump Boys and Dinettes, Constantine Maroulis tweeted, “So STOKED for my brother Bo Bice. This is a perfect 'Vehicle' for him!”
Idol Broadway Week Song: “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin

Third Place: Vonzell Solomon
The big-voiced Solomon never got a record deal, but she successfully hit the road as a vocalist for touring theatrical productions of Simply Ballroom and Burn the Floor. She played Glinda and Aunt Em in Broadway vet Todrick Hall’s version of Oz, the Musical in Lubbock, TX, alongside other Idol vets.
Idol Broadway Week Song: “People” from Funny Girl

Fourth Place: Anthony Federov
Balladeer Federov, who was 19 when he appeared on Idol, quickly found a niche in musical theater. He made his off-Broadway debut in 2007 as Matt in The Fantasticks and has played the title role in seven productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, including one in Tokyo. Other stage roles include the Prince in Cinderella, Link Larkin in Hairspray and Roger in the off-Broadway revival of Rent. Federov is currently playing Rolf in Paper Mill Playhouse’s revival of The Sound of Music.
Idol Broadway Week Song: “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music

Fifth Place: Scott Savol
“Scotty the Body” was the most unexpected member of Idol’s top five in 2005. Since then, he has headlined a show in tourist-friendly Branson, MO, and toured in the inspirational stage play The Lord Will Make a Way. Savol also joined Vonzell Solomon in Todrick Hall’s Texas production of Oz, the Musical as the Cowardly Lion.
Idol Broadway Week Song: “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha

Sixth Place: Constantine Maroulis
The only Idol contestant to be nominated for a Best Actor Tony Award, Constantine Maroulis had already played Roger in a non-Equity tour of Rent before rocking out on TV. After a 2006 Broadway debut in The Wedding Singer and 2007 off-Broadway debut in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Maroulis landed the role of Drew in Rock of Ages, which led to his Tony nod and a reign as Broadway.com’s Star of the Year. He began 2012 in The Toxic Avenger at Houston’s Alley Theatre and is currently Broadway-bound in the title roles of Jekyll and Hyde.
Idol Broadway Week Song: “My Funny Valentine” from Babes in Arms