::Clay Aiken Musical Starts July 5th In NY::By Elliott West, Raleigh Chronicle Editor
Saturday June 30, 2007
CORRECTED: Saturday 1:34pm
NEW YORK - A musical comedy called "Idol: The Musical" about Clay Aiken fans will start its first show next week on July 5th at the 45th Street Theatre near Times Square in New York City and will run through August 25th.
Set in the town of Steubenville, Ohio, which is a town of 19,000 people on the Ohio River, the hour and a half musical takes a look at dedicated Clay Aiken fans who want to follow in his footsteps.
According to an article in the New York Post newspaper, Todd Ellis, a Syracuse New York drama teacher at the Syracuse Civic Theatre, has invested his life savings into the production which he says takes an entertaining look at Clay fans.
"There is so much hysteria surrounding the Claymates," Ellis told the newspaper on June 21st. "He's godlike -- the ones that are devoted to him are really devoted."
Ellis has added in one interview that he is a Clay Aiken fan himself.
Reaction from Clay Aiken's real legions of fans seems to be cautiously upbeat.
"Let's wait and see what the reviews are like from Clay fans after they've seen this play," said ClaytonClayniac on the Clayboard discussion group at ClaytonAiken.com. "Then, if they are indeed positive, I say the rest of the fandom who can possibly go see this play should go arm in arm - proudly wearing their Clay T-Shirts!!! It would be a hoot!"
"Calling all Claymates, it's time to head to Broadway!" said LikenClay2 at the ClayAikenTheIdealIdol.com discussion group. "Well, maybe off-Broadway."
Read the rest at
Raleigh Chronicle.com.