Jennifer Hudson Latest 'American Idol' Alum to Make Leap to Broadway Stage

Each week, contestants sing their hearts out in front of millions of viewers on national television, but only one person each season can be crowned the American Idol. The show has recently announced that it will have its 15th and final season this year (2015-2016). While much has changed about the show since its inception, including a seemingly ever-changing cast of judges, there's little denying the success the show has had as a launching point for many careers in the entertainment industry. The most notable stars so far come from the first six seasons of the show. While the earliest stars like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood were successful at making music, others have moved on to careers on other stages. It has been made very clear over the years that you don't have to actually win American Idol or any contestant-based show in order to make it big. Clay Aiken did well for himself as runner-up for season two. Broadway alum, Fantasia, didn't win the singing competition either and neither did Jennifer Hudson. In fact, Hudson, arguably one of the best-known contestants, came in seventh place during her season.  Now, Jennifer Hudson is making the leap to a Broadway stage.

While others have moved onto other small roles on tv as well, a popular place for these entertainers to showcase their talents has been Broadway. Jennifer Hudson will be the most recent Idol alum to make that jump, as she will be in the newest revival of the book-turned-Broadway production of The Color Purple as Shug Avery. While she's the latest to make the jump to the stage, she isn't even the first Idol contestant to be cast in this show. Back in 2007, fan favorite Fantasia made her Broadway debut with The Color Purple, and that same production also starred LaKisha Jones until 2008.

This revival of The Color Purple will start previews on November 10 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater. Some tickets are now available and a limited inventory of tickets has begun to show up on the secondary market. From that inventory, it appears that demand could be high for this iteration of the play. According to TiqIQ, the current average price of The Color Purple tickets on the secondary market is $261.65. However, that price is likely to shift as more tickets hit the secondary market for each show.

The upcoming role also won't be Hudson's first on the stage. She was also cast in The Best Little Whorehouse in 2006. Hudson will is already on a list of about 15 other Idol contestants who have also spent time on the stages of the Great White Way. Other credible Broadway stars who claim their start from the singing competition are Justin Guarini, Constantine Maroulis and Katie Webber. Guarini has played parts in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, American Idiot and Wicked. Maroulis has been in The Wedding Singer, Rock of Ages and Jekyll & Hyde. Webber also played parts in multiple shows such as Wicked, Rock of Ages and Catch Me If You Can.