Broadway's surprise 'head banging' hit Rock of Ages, is among the celebrated ranks of this year's Tony Contenders, earning no fewer than five nominations-including a Best Actor nomination for star Constantine Maroulis.
A Season 4 veteran of American Idol, Maroulis is the first contestant from the hit FOX series to earn such a prestigious distinction. But it shouldn't come as such a big shock as the actor attended the The Boston Conservatory of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater from the Boston Conservatory of Music and a minor in voice from the Berklee College of Music in 2002.
After graduating the Conservatory, Maroulis trained as an acting apprentice at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and toured in the Broadway international touring company of Rent, performing the lead role of Roger Davis. Since appearing on the nation's most watched television show, Constantine has starred in several stage productions, released his own solo album, toured the country, and even held a recurring role on CBS' daytime soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful.
He appeared in The Wedding Singer on Broadway as well as a thrilling turn as Judas in The Premier Theatre Company presentation of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" at The Henderson Theater in Lincroft, New Jersey in June 2008.
The 33-year-old singer, who plays wannabe rocker Drew Bowie in Rock of Ages, took a few during his very busy "Meet the Nominees" day to talk about the excitement of being nominated for a Tony, his love of the stage and his devotion to his director and cast.
BWW: How did you find out about the nominations?
Constantine Maroulis: I had been really sick with a bad cold all that week and fighting through it, so I was waking up crappy and tired, and just out of it, you know? I didn't set my alarm or anything for the Tony nominations, I didn't want to be ‘that guy' (laughs). I was actually asleep for the beginning. I usually fall asleep with Sports Center on, that is my bedtime entertainment, so the TV was on when I woke up. Once I was finally up I turned it on in the background just as they were literally saying ‘The Nominees for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.' I said, ‘Oh, OK, whatever.' I heard them read off Gavin Creel and Brian d'Arcy James and then the Billy Elliot boys, and then without warning, ME! It was amazing. Very, very surreal - truly just surreal.
