Harvey Forbes Fierstein is an American actor, playwright, and political commentator. He is best known for his theater work in Torch Song Trilogy and Hairspray and movie roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Independence Day, and as the voice of Yao in Mulan and Mulan II. Fierstein won two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play and Best Play for Torch Song Trilogy. His third, the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, was earned for the musical La Cage aux Folles and his fourth Tony Award, the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical was earned for playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. Fierstein also wrote the book for the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, Newsies, and A Catered Affair. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007.
Hairspray is an American musical with music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on John Waters's 1988 film of the same name. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, leading to social change as Tracy campaigns for the show's integration.
Patricia Elliott was an American theatre, film, soap opera, and television actress.
Howard Da Silva was an American actor, director and musical performer on stage, film, television and radio. He was cast in dozens of productions on the New York stage, appeared in more than two dozen television programs, and acted in more than fifty feature films. Adept at both drama and musicals on the stage, he originated the role of Jud Fry in the original 1943 run of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!, and also portrayed the prosecuting attorney in the 1957 stage production of Compulsion. Da Silva was nominated for a 1960 Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his work in Fiorello!, a musical about New York City mayor LaGuardia. In 1961, Da Silva directed Purlie Victorious, by Ossie Davis.
Thomas Edward Meehan was an American playwright. He wrote the books for the musicals Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Young Frankenstein and Cry-Baby. He co-wrote the books for Elf: The Musical and Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin.
Hairspray is a 2007 musical romantic comedy film based on the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on John Waters's 1988 comedy film of the same name. Produced by Ingenious Media and Zadan/Meron Productions, and adapted from both Waters's 1988 script and Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell's book for the stage musical by screenwriter Leslie Dixon, the film was directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman and has an ensemble cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, and Nikki Blonsky in her feature film debut. Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the film follows the "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad (Blonsky) as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local television dance show and rallies against racial segregation.
Charles Joseph King was a vaudeville and Broadway actor who also starred in several movies. He starred as the leading actor in the hit MGM movie, The Broadway Melody (1929), the first all-talking film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Jack O'Brien is an American director, producer, writer and lyricist. He served as the Artistic Director of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California from 1981 through the end of 2007.
Julie Halston is an American actress and comedian. She was born in Flushing, Queens. Her parents, Rudolph “Rudy” Abatelli and her mother Julia Madeline “Dolly” moved to Commack, Long Island when Halston was four years of age. Halston graduated from Hofstra University cum laude with a B.A. in Theatre Arts.
Liz Larsen is an American actress. She is best known for playing Jessica Reed on Law & Order. Larsen received a Tony Award nomination for The Most Happy Fella revival (1992) and has also appeared on Broadway in Hairspray, The Rocky Horror Show, Damn Yankees, Starmites, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has performed in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical since its opening in 2014.
Too Many Girls is a Broadway musical comedy which was adapted for a 1940 film version starring Lucille Ball. The original Broadway production is noteworthy for advancing the career of musician Desi Arnaz. The music was composed by Richard Rodgers, the lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and the book was by George Marion, Jr.
Hairspray: Soundtrack to the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album for the 2007 New Line Cinema musical film Hairspray. The film is an adaptation of the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, itself adapted from John Waters's original 1988 film. It features performances from the film's cast, which includes John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, and Nikki Blonsky as the lead character of Tracy Turnblad.
Mark Berman is a New York City pianist, composer, producer, conductor, music director and arranger.
John Arthur Hill is an American musical theater actor who is most well known for his role of Jason McConnell in the Off-Broadway run of Bare: A Pop Opera. He also developed a following on his former website "John Hill Online" with his videos entitled "Johnny and Kooks", comedic videos he made with his friend Katharine Leonard. The pair released a single on iTunes entitled "About You". He grew up in San Antonio, Texas and currently resides in Los Angeles, California where he is producing television programs.
Clyde Alves is a Canadian dancer, actor and singer. Alves appeared on Broadway in The Music Man in the Susan Stroman revival (2000) as Tommy Djilas, and was nominated for the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer. He repeated his role in the ABC television special of The Music Man which aired in 2003.
Curt Hansen is an American actor and singer.
This page lists only acting roles and other projects undertaken in film, television and theater in the post-Idol career of American Idol contestants. It does not include guest musical performances or interviews on TV shows, or any pre-Idol work. It is also not intended to be a comprehensive list of all acting roles, appearances, awards nominated or won by any particular alum. Where there are multiple entries, only the more significant may be listed. Please see the appropriate links and references for individual alum for such more complete lists.
Gary Seligson is an American drummer and percussionist from West Orange, New Jersey. A graduate of The Hart School, he is one of the most sought drummers in New York City. Gary has played in many Broadway hits including Tarzan, Aida and Wicked. He was also the drummer for Broadway show Billy Elliot's 3 year run, performing at the Imperial Theatre. Currently, Gary can be found at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre where he is the percussionist for Broadway musical Motown.
Steven Cutts is an American actor, writer, and director best known for the role of Shaun in the musical film, Camp, which also starred actress Anna Kendrick.
Broadway Asia is an international Broadway production company based in New York City. It was founded by partners Simone Genatt and Marc Routh in 1991.
