Theater

Justin Guarini to Make Broadway Debut in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

And the post-American Idol theater careers of other contestants

by Josh Kurp   |   Aug 20, 2010

Justin Guarini to Make Broadway Debut in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Photo: Jyle Dupuis, via Flickr

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Justin Guarini, best known as the runner-up of American Idol‘s first season the titular male in From Justin to Kelly, has joined the cast of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, a musical adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar’s 1988 film. He will play Carlos, the son of Lucia (played by Patti LuPone) and Ivan (Brian Stokes Mitchell). The musical also stars Sherie Rene Scott and Laura Benanti, and is set to begin previews on October 2 at the Belasco Theater with an official opening for November 4.

Guarini is just one of many American Idol contestants to go from being criticized by Simon Cowell to theater performances. Below is the complete history:

Season Two

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Clay Aiken—Spamalot

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Ruben Studdard—Ain’t Misbehavin’

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Frenchie Davis—Rent, Dreamgirls, Ain’t Misbehavin’

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Trenyce—Ain’t Misbehavin’, Thriller Live, Dreamgirls

Season Three

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Diana DeGarmo—Oz the Musical, The Toxic Avenger, Hair, 9 to 5

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Fantasia Barrino—The Color Purple

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Amy Adams—Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

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LaToya London—The Color Purple

Season Four

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Anthony Fedorov—The Fantasticks, Simply Ballroom, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

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Constantine Maroulis—Rock of Ages

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Anwar Robinson—Rent, Godspell

Season Five

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Taylor Hicks—Grease

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Katharine McPhee—110 Stories

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Ace Young—Grease, Hair

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Ayla Brown—Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Season Six

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Jordin Sparks—In the Heights

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Sabrina Sloan—In the Heights, Hairspray

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LaKisha Jones—The Color Purple

Season Seven

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Syesha Mercado—Dreamgirls

No one from season eight or nine yet.