Diana DeGarmo to Return to Broadway’s Hairspray

Former American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo will return to the role of Penny Pingleton in the Broadway production of Hairspray, September 8-February 11, replacing Caissie Levy. She played the role of Penny for three months earlier this year.

Most recently, DeGarmo has been headlining the national tour of Brooklyn: The Musical. Her other musical theater credits include Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and West Side Story. DeGarmo was the runner-up to Fantasia in the 2004 season of American Idol. She has also released a CD titled Blue Skies and toured with other members of the show in concert.

Hairspray currently stars Shannon Durig, Blake Hammond, Haylie Duff, Darlene Love, Isabel Keating, Stephen DeRosa, Tevin Campbell, Lisa Jolley, and Jonathan Dokuchitz. A film version, starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, and Christopher Walken, is due out in December 2007.