Josh Kaufman, who won Season 6 of NBC's The Voice in May 2014, will make his Broadway debut in the title role of Pippin beginning November 4 for a limited engagement through January 4, 2015 at the Music Box Theatre.
Kaufman will take over for Kyle Dean Massey, who has held the role since April 1.
The innovative revival, with circus creation by Gypsy Snider of Montreal-based Les 7 doigts de la main, is directed by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus and boasts Bob Fosse-style choreography by Tony nominee Chet Walker. Last year it won four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical, out of 10 nominations. Andrea Martin, who finishes up a brief return engagement as "Berthe" this weekend, also won a Tony.
The Indianapolis-based Kaufman began on The Voice's Team Adam but was stolen by Team Usher, then went on the win the competition, becoming the show's first "stolen" winner and its oldest winner (he's 38).
The Indianapolis Star reports that Kaufman "said he never saw himself leading a Broadway show until the offer came" and "hasn't much stage experience, but has performed live in front of millions on TV and says those skills will be useful."
Indeed the singer is not just a crooner of pop hits. The Star also reported that "Indy Jazz Fest director David Allee remembers Kaufman as an elegant crooner in the tradition of Chet Baker. That was back in Kaufman's local nightclub days."
Just last week he was scheduled to sing at the 2,400-capacity Murat Theatre in Old National Centre at an Indy Jazz Fest concert backed by a 10-piece big band and vocal trio Soul Purpose.
And last month the versatile vocalist played a singer-songwriter-guitarist show at the Indiana State Fair.
More regularly, Kaufman sings with his band The New Etiquette and supports himself by teaching SAT prep. But all that's going to be put on hold come November--for a couple of months, anyway.
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