"American Idol" alum Taylor Hicks is joining the cast of "Grease."

I'VE GOT CHILLS, THEY'RE MULTIPLYIN': "American Idol" alum Taylor Hicks is joining the cast of "Grease." Here, he takes center stage during the "American Idol"'s 2006 tour. (Stefano Paltera/For The Times, xx / August 26, 2006)

By Lynne Heffley Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 17, 2008
Another "American Idol" is Broadway bound. Taylor Hicks, who took the "American Idol" title in Season 5 with the help of his "Soul Patrol" fans, will make his New York stage debut as "Teen Angel" in the current revival of the musical "Grease" at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

Hicks will join the cast of the show, whose leads were chosen by viewers of the NBC talent competition "Grease: You're the One That I Want" in 2007, on June 6, following in the tradition of an eclectic list of celebrities who have played the role -- among them jazz notable Al Jarreau and rock 'n' roll icon Chubby Checker in a 1990s revival.

Some of the other "Idol" contestants who have taken their talents to Broadway, with varying degrees of success, are 2005 winner Fantasia Barrino ("The Color Purple"), 2005 finalist Diana DeGarmo ("Hairspray") and 2003 finalist Josh Strickland (Disney's "Tarzan").

lynne.heffley@latimes.com