American Idol’s Bo Bice Stars in Broadway’s ‘Pump Boys and Dinettes’

Former “American Idol” contestant Bo Bice will head to Broadway early next year in the revival of the musical “Pump Boys and Dinettes.”

The production will be held at the Circle in the Square Theater, and preview performances will begin March 19, 2013. Other casting that has been previously announced includes Alexander Gemignani, Erik Hayden, Jane Pfitsch, Leenya Rideout and Justin Hosek. The actors also serve as the show’s band, and various members play guitar, bass, piano, accordion, fiddle and harmonica, as well as various kitchen utensils.

The original Broadway production opened in 1982 and ran for 573 performances over 16 months. It was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Musical. The original Broadway company – which included Debra Monk and Cass Morgan – also wrote the musical. The production is set in a gas station that is also a roadside diner in a small town in North Carolina.

Bo Bice was the runner up on the fourth season of “American Idol,” finishing only behind Carrie Underwood. The sixth place winner that season – Constantine Maroulis – has earned a Best Actor Tony Award nomination for his work on Broadway’s “Rock of Ages.” Maroulis also has appeared on Broadway in “The Wedding Singer,” and appeared Off Broadway in “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.” Even before appearing on “Idol,” he had played Roger in a non-Equity tour of “Rent.”

Since leaving “American Idol,” Bice has released three studio albums, The Real Thing, See the Light and 3. His first album, released in 2005, is his most commercially successful album to date, and has been certified Gold in the United States. The album features special guest appearances from Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora and Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger. The latter wrote one of the songs on the album.