Diana DeGarmo cast as Hairspray's Next Penny

Former American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo will join the cast of Broadway's Hairspray as Penny Pingleton from February 7 through May 14, 2006.

DeGarmo, age 18, recently starred this summer as Maria in West Side Story at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose. This June, she embarks on the national tour of Brooklyn, the Musical playing the title character of that show. DeGarmo has also opened for musical artists like Dolly Parton, Toby Keith, and The Baja Men.

DeGarmo, who won second-place on FOX's American Idol Season 3, later toured nation-wide with the other American Idol finalists. RCA Records released her first solo album, Blue Skies, in December 2004.

DeGarmo takes over for current cast member Tracey Miller in the role of Penny. The current Hairspray cast also includes Tevin Campbell, Stephen DeRosa, Shannon Durig, Becky Gulsvig, Leah Hocking, Darlene Love, John Pinette, Andrew Rannells. In Hairspray, it's 1962, and Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad wants to dance. When she wins a spot on the local TV dance program The Corny Collins Show, this big girl with big hair becomes a teen celebrity overnight. Soon Tracy finds herself pitted against the show's reigning princess for the title Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962. Based on the John Waters film, Hairspray is the winner of the 2003 Tony Award for Best Musical, the 2003 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical, and the 2003 Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Musical!

Hairspray, based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, is currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre. Hairspray, directed by Jack O'Brien, features an original score by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.