American Idol Finalist Anthony Fedorov To Join Off-Broadway's Fantasticks

Anthony Fedorov will be the next in a series of American Idol contestants to make the leap to the New York stage. The Season Four finalist will step into the role of Matt in off-Broadway's The Fantasticks on May 1 at the Snapple Theater Center. Fedorov replaces current cast member Douglas Ullman, Jr. in the musical.

The Ukrainian-born Fedorov finished fourth, just ahead of Broadway alum and current Jacques Brel star Constantine Maroulis and behind Vonzell Solomon, Bo Bice and winner Carrie Underwood on the fourth season of Fox's American Idol. The now-21-year-old was a fan favorite, thanks in part to his personal story: the singer underwent a tracheotomy as a toddler to repair a birth defect in his wind pipe, fueling skepticism that he would ever talk, let alone sing. The songs he performed on Idol include, "If You Don't Know Me By Now," "Every Time You Go Away," "I Want to Know What Love Is," and a rendition of "Climb Every Mountain" on the show's Broadway night. Federov also recently appeared as a celebrity judge in MTV's Little Talent Show Triple Threat and as a celebrity contestant on Fox's Fear Factor. He is currently at work on a solo album.

The Fantasticks tells the story of a young boy and girl who fall madly in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, but soon grow restless and stray from one another. Will their separation provide a deeper appreciation for the love they once shared or create a permanent gulf between them? The show, which features music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Jones, includes such classic songs as "Try To Remember," "Much More" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."

The cast of The Fantasticks includes Thomas Bruce, John Deyle, Sara Jean Ford, Burke Moses, Robert R. Oliver, Nick Spangler and Martin Vidnovic.