From Justin to Kelly to Broadway
American Idol Alum Justin Guarini has found him some Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
By Whitney Spaner
Photographed by Mimi Ko
In 2002, a 23-year-old Justin Guarini was about to make his Broadway debut in the chorus of The Lion King. "I had done Lion King master classes for years and they were like, 'We want to put you in the show, we just want to find the right part for you,'" Guarini recalls. "And when they called back and said 'We've got a role for you,' I had to be like, 'That's great but I'm going out to L.A. for this show called American Idol. I may get cut, so I may be back.'"
Eight years later, and he's finally back. After charming and crooning his way to second place on the first-ever season of the now ubiquitous AI, the bright-eyed, bushy-haired Guarini is gearing
up to make his Broadway debut this month in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. The spunky new musical is based on Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar's poignant and stylized 1993 Academy Award-nominated film and has been translated to the Broadway stage by the brilliant director Bartlett Sher.
Chorus boy no more, Guarini plays Carlos, a passionate lover-in-training -- a role originated in the film by a very young Antonio Banderas. And if there were a Broadway American Idol, his co-stars Sherie Rene Scott, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Patti LuPone would no doubt serve as judges. "I've had a lifetime of experience and over ten years of professional experience," Guarini explains in his half-decorated dressing room at the Belasco Theater. "But I come into this situation with all of these people who are Tony Award-winners and here I am with 'parentheses American Idol' after my name. And so I just learned to allow myself to be a beginner." But when we point out that American Idol is better than a From Justin to Kelly reference, he laughs: "Hey, there are the little blessings."
★ WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN IS NOW OPEN AT THE BELASCO THEATER, 111 W. 44TH ST., NEW YORK ★
Grooming by Margina Dennis for Make Up Forever
Eight years later, and he's finally back. After charming and crooning his way to second place on the first-ever season of the now ubiquitous AI, the bright-eyed, bushy-haired Guarini is gearing
up to make his Broadway debut this month in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. The spunky new musical is based on Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar's poignant and stylized 1993 Academy Award-nominated film and has been translated to the Broadway stage by the brilliant director Bartlett Sher.
Chorus boy no more, Guarini plays Carlos, a passionate lover-in-training -- a role originated in the film by a very young Antonio Banderas. And if there were a Broadway American Idol, his co-stars Sherie Rene Scott, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Patti LuPone would no doubt serve as judges. "I've had a lifetime of experience and over ten years of professional experience," Guarini explains in his half-decorated dressing room at the Belasco Theater. "But I come into this situation with all of these people who are Tony Award-winners and here I am with 'parentheses American Idol' after my name. And so I just learned to allow myself to be a beginner." But when we point out that American Idol is better than a From Justin to Kelly reference, he laughs: "Hey, there are the little blessings."
★ WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN IS NOW OPEN AT THE BELASCO THEATER, 111 W. 44TH ST., NEW YORK ★
Grooming by Margina Dennis for Make Up Forever
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