Hollywood is 'Over the Moon' for Rent's Nicole Scherzinger

She's best known as one of the bump' n' grind bootyshakers of girl group the Pussycat Dolls and the most recent winner of Dancing with the Stars, but turns out there's way more to Nicole Scherzinger than bare midriff. Word from the Hollywood Bowl is that the pop star was the stand-out in Neil Patrick Harris' arena staging of Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway hit Rent, giving a performance as lesbian performance artist Maureen that some declare (brace yourselves, and no we're not weighing in) is comparable to role originator Idina Menzel. Cast alongside Rialto favorites Aaron Tveit and Skylar Astin, show veterans Tracie Thoms and Telly Leung, High School Musical darling Vanessa Hudgens and TV personality Wayne Brady, Scherzinger seemed like a bit of sexy stunt casting. However, as these clips from show-stopper "Over the Moon" show, girl's got comic chops, a voice that doesn't need auto-tune and natural ease in front of a whole lotta people without the rump-shaking assistance of the Dolls behind her. (Also, she's hot. But you knew that part already, right?) Is she as good as Idina? Watch it and decide for yourself. Then as an added bonus also check out Nicole's diva duke-out duet with Thoms on "Take Me or Leave Me".