Once, they divided America. But this holiday season, they unite us all.
Fifteen years after going head-to-head in the season 2 finale ofAmerican Idol,champ Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aikenwill share a stage again in a new holiday-themed Broadway show.
The pair will co-headlineRuben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carole Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show,a three-week limited engagement holiday spectacular that promises classic holiday tunes as well as comedic scenes and sketches.
“Christmas is about family, friends and fun,” Studdard, 40, said in a statement about the show — dubbedRuben & Clay’s Christmas Showfor short. “Clay and I can’t wait to bring all those things together on Broadway this December!”
It’ll be the first time Studdard and Aiken, 39, have performed together on a stage of this size sinceIdolin 2013. The two had previously reunited for the first time sinceIdolback in 2016,for a special duet onThe View.
Mark Hill
Studdard has released seven studio albums including this year’sRuben Sings Luther, a tribute album to the late Luther Vandross. Aiken — who previously appeared on Broadway before inMonty Python’s Spamalot— has also released seven studio albums, but walked away from music after 2012’sSteadfastto focus on a campaign for Congress in North Carolina.
They’ve also remained friends. “People always seem so surprised when they hear that we are still such good friends,” Aiken explained on Instagram earlier this month. “Easily the best thing to come directly out of [Idol] for me was this friendship turned kinship.”
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Performances forRuben & Clay’s Christmas Showbegin at New York City’s Imperial Theatre on Dec. 7 and will continue through Dec. 30. Opening night is set for Dec. 11.Tickets are available now.
In true holiday spirit, a portion of all proceeds will go to benefit the National Inclusion Project, the leading voice for the inclusion of children with disabilities.
source: people.com
