Sanjaya Malakar was one of the most memorable contestants during Season 6 of “American Idol.” Since then, he went on to tour with the top 10 finalists from his season, wrote a book, “Dancing in the Music in My Head,” and released an EP. Malakar is now making his New York stage debut in the off-Broadway hit musical, Freckleface Strawberry, at New World Stages. The musical is based on the popular children’s book by Julianne Moore.

BroadwayWorld spoke with Malakar about his days on “Idol” and his off-Broadway debut.

What have you been up to since your “American Idol” days?

Working! I have been keeping busy working on a full-length album, and developing my songwriting.… Read the rest

John Larroquette is best known for his work as Assistant District Attorney Dan Fielding on the NBC sitcom Night Court, for which he won four consecutive Emmy Awards. He then went on to star in the NBC comedy series, The John Larroquette Show, was a series regular on Boston Legal, and won a fifth Emmy for a guest stint on ABC’s The Practice. Last year, Larroquette made his Off-Broadway debut in Oliver Parker!, and later this month, he will star opposite Daniel Radcliffe in the Broadway revival of How to Succeed In Business (Without Really Trying). TheaterMania spoke recently with Larroquette about the production and his career.… Read the rest

Alice Ripley won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal as Diana Goodman in Next to Normal, and is currently reprising her role in the show’s North American tour. In addition, Ripley has just released a new CD of rock covers, Daily Practice Volume 1, featuring such pop classics Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road,” U2′s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and REM’s “Everybody Hurts”; she will be performing a concert based on the CD at Chicago’s Stage 773 on May 2. TheaterMania spoke with Ripley about her album and the tour.

THEATERMANIA: How would you define this album?
ALICE RIPLEY: Daily Practice is the first in a series of volumes, whose purpose may be to serve as a go-to corner resource, offering reliable examples of honest-to-goodness songwriting at its finest.… Read the rest

Kyle Dean Massey made his Broadway debut understudying the role of Fiyero in Wicked, and then took on major roles inXanadu, Altar Boyz, and Next to Normal. He has now come full circle, returning to Wicked to play Fiyero, and he will also be seen this spring in the Off-Broadway premiere of the musical Lucky Guy at the Little Shubert. TheaterMania spoke with Massey about these shows.

THEATERMANIA: You had one week off in between Next to Normal and Wicked. How was the transition?
Kyle Dean Massey: Really great. I did double duty during the last week of Next to Normal. I had Wickedrehearsals during the day and then Next to Normalperformances at night.… Read the rest