Diana to star in 'Liberty' one night only at NYMF

Diana will play the title role of the upcoming musical Liberty: A New Musical at the New York Music Theater Festival at the Acorn Theatre for one night only on Tues., Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. Information about the plot, courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com, is as follows:

Directed by Igor Goldin (Yank!), LIBERTY features a book and lyrics by Dana Leslie Goldstein and music by Jonathan Goldstein. Currently preparing for an expanded run in the summer of 2010, LIBERTY tells the story of America's most famous immigrant (DeGarmo) who arrives from France in 1884 amid anti-foreigner fervor. With powerful political forces working against her and only a precious few on her side, Liberty ultimately wins over the people of the United States and takes her rightful place on the pedestal. LIBERTY serves as a theatrical reminder not only of what this country was meant to become, but how we have, in recent years, lost sight of the "Golden Door."

According to Playbill.com, other cast members include Ryan Duncan (Altar Boyz, Shrek) as James Goodleaf, Leah Horowitz (Les Miserables) as Emma Lazarus and Destan Owens (Chicago, Rent) as Samuel Ferguson. Tickets can be purchased at NYMF.org.

EW.com reviews 'Toxic Avenger'

Entertainment Weekly's Clark Collis recently reviewed Diana's role in The Toxic Avenger in a piece that was posted on the publication's Web site, EW.com. The review was fairly favorable to Diana, as evident below:

The busty DeGarmo is the object of Ferd's affection, a blind librarian named Sarah who falls in love with the post-gooed-up Melvin and, at times, almost out of her skimpy wardrobe. The singer, who previously appeared in the Broadway version of Hairspray and joined Toxic Avenger last month, exudes an enthusiastic and essential gameness that was singularly lacking in fellow Idol-er Clay Aiken's performance in Spamalot. Where Aiken retreated into the background, DeGarmo hurls herself unselfconsciously into the mayhemic proceedings as she duets with Cordero on the up-tempo ''Hot Toxic Love'' or croons about her beau in ''My Big French Boyfriend.'' (The sightless, and somewhat dim, Sarah believes her pungent new partner hails from the land of Belmondo and, more relevantly, brie.)

Collis gave the Off-Broadway hit musical a "B," and said Diana "is actually rather good" in it. (Photo courtesy of Carol Rosegg).

Diana does Playbill's "Cue & A"

Continuing on her press extravaganza since joining the cast of the Off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger, Diana participated in Playbill.com's "Cue & A" feature, which was published earlier today. In the write-up, Diana answered some pressing questions that fans everywhere were dying to know, including what her current Web obsession is ("Foodnetwork.com — gotta get good recipes to make for my Toxic family!") and what the last book she read was ("Yeah, right...."). Below are some of the more interesting answers:

Pop culture guilty pleasure: perezhilton.com...... I know, I know..... I have to make sure he isn't talking about me! Oh, and also keep up on the Hollywood gossip. You know you do it, too!

Worst costume ever: The dang orange jumpers I have now been put in for two shows! My hell is made out of orange jumpers.....

TV or commercial gig you most enjoyed: When I was about 6, I did a "Zataran's Red Beans & Rice" commercial. I ate like a pig all day and then the commercial ran until I was 13! Oh, I also did a "Sonic" commercial and when the director told us to be "super" excited that we had gotten there, I proceeded to say, "Praise Jesus, we made it to Sonic!" Really loudly..... I then remember the crew and everyone laughing for at least 20 minutes. I thought I was right on!

Diana of course ended on a funny note when it came to a question relating to her American Idol past. When asked which other "American Idol" star would you love to see try Broadway?, she wittily retorted with the suggestion that the judges should give it a try and we could "see how they do... shall we?!?"

Diana and crew create "Hot Toxic Love Sundae" at Serendipity 3

Diana and her fellow cast mates from The Toxic Avenger took time out of their busy schedule this past Thursday to sample the brand new "Hot Toxic Love Sundae" at Serendipity 3 (225 East 60th Street) that reportedly turns people who eat it "green with envy." Peter James Zielinski of BroadwayWorld.com was there to cover it and wrote an article that was published on the site yesterday. In part, the write-up said:

Serendipity 3, the landmark NYC dessert emporium teamed with the Off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger, to create a sundae "so toxically delicious it will turn you green with envy - The Hot Toxic Love Sundae!"

There were also many photos taken of the cast at the event, in which the four of them showed their mystique over the creation.

Diana talks with The Broadway Channel

Diana has been speaking to many media outlets in the theatrical arena lately about her new role in the Off Broadway production of The Toxic Avenger, with the latest outlet being The Broadway Channel. Below is a snippet of an interview from a fall 2010 preview package of Off Broadway productions, which was uploaded onto The Broadway Channel's official YouTube account yesterday:

In the interview, Diana talks about how difficult it is to play a blind character and how the show is consistently funny yet there is an "intertwining love story" and an underlying theme to "protect mother earth."

Diana talks 'Toxic' with Broadway Magazine

Diana spoke Leora Kanner of Broadway Magazine about her experiences starring in The Toxic Avenger in addition to other topics like her "bipolar life" commuting between Nashville and New York. Watch excerpts from the interview posted on Broadway.tv.

Bonus footage from the interview was also posted featuring Diana speaking about her days on American Idol and addressing the controversy surrounding the departure of Paula Abdul from the series, which can be viewed here.

Diana listed the top three reasons to see the show as being the following:

1) "you can bring your own alcoholic beverages into the theater"
2) she guarantees "you will laugh silly"
3) "you will get to see some of the craziest talented people in the world."