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'American Idol' Diana DeGarmo heads back to Broadway

amNY.com staff

1:58 PM EDT, July 22, 2008

Former "American Idol" contestant Diana DeGarmo will be in the cast of the revival of "Godspell," as it returns to Broadway this fall. (Evan Agostini, Associated Press / July 22, 2008)

" American Idol" starlet Diana DeGarmo is heading back to Broadway, this time to revive the flower power of a 1970s Jesus with a fresh production of "Godspell."

DeGarmo played the role of Penn Pingelton in the Broadway production of "Hairspray" in 2006.

The pop musical, which has a score by Stephen Schwartz, opens Oct. 23 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, producer Adam Epstein announced Tuesday. It will feature Gavin Creel as Jesus and Joshua Henry as Judas.

Preview performances begin Sept. 29.

"Godspell," which has a book by John-Michael Tebelak, was one of the biggest off-Broadway hits of '70s, running for more than 2,000 performances before moving to Broadway in 1976 for a run of more than a year.

The 2008 revival will be directed by Daniel Goldstein, and the choreography is by Christopher Gattelli.

Creel received a Tony nomination for his performance in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and recently played Bert, the chimney sweep, in the London production of "Mary Poppins."