After nabbing the title of America’s Favorite Dancer on “So You Think You Can Dance,” the next winner of the FOX reality competish might go out “On the Town.”
Producers of the fall Broadway revival of “On the Town” will offer the upcoming winner of the current cycle of “So You Think You Dance” a part in the tuner as part of the series’ prize package. On the next episode of the show, the stage musical’s choreographer, Josh Bergasse (“Smash”), will choreograph a performance of opening number “New York, New York” featuring the 20 finalists in competition on “SYTYCD” this season.
Casting for the musical, which opens in October, has already been set. The “SYTCD” winner would join the tuner in the spring, assuming that sales for the production are strong enough to sustain it for that long. No role has been specified, although the part seems likely to be a dance-centric chorus gig.
Overlaps between Broadway and television’s live-performance competitions have become relatively common in recent years, but only rarely does such casting spark sales at the box office. “American Idol” has yielded the most robust crop of performers who have gone on to stints on the Rialto, with Fantasia Barrino driving stellar sales at “The Color Purple” (though attracting less business in the unfamiliar property “After Midnight”). Clay Aiken also helped spur some business during his tenure in “Spamalot.”
Meanwhile, fellow “Idol” alums Constantine Maroulis and Justin Guarini have become Rialto regulars, while Jordin Sparks and Diana DeGarmo also have taken Broadway gigs.
“SYTYCD” contestants have filtered onto New York stages as well, though few have attracted much attention. Most recently, Cole Horibe played Bruce Lee in last season’s bio-play “Kung Fu” at Off Broadway’s Signature Theater. (That production was choreographed by “SYTYCD” alum Sonya Tayeh.)
The “New York, New York” number will air as part of the July 9 episode of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Broadway’s “On the Town” begins previews Sept. 20 at the Lyric Theater.
