Clay Aiken sets out on holiday trek



October 24, 2007 05:10 AM
By Kym Kilgore
LiveDaily

Clay Aiken is gearing up to spread the holiday cheer on his "Christmas in the Heartland" tour, which launches next month.

But first, the "American Idol" alumnus has a couple of special shows on deck.

On Friday (10/26), he'll take part in the star-studded "Neil Sedaka 50 Years of Hits" tribute concert in New York City, which benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Then, on Nov. 6, Aiken will head to Las Vegas to serve as the exclusive musical guest for the "Capital One Holiday Celebration on Ice" show with 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen and a host of other champion skaters. That program will be taped for a Christmas Day broadcast on NBC-TV.

Aiken's holiday outing is officially set to kick off Nov. 26 in Wichita, KS. The tour will visit theaters across the Midwest and East through late December. The itinerary is listed below.

Meanwhile, the singer is already filling up his calendar for next year. He will make his Broadway debut in Monty Python's "Spamalot" from Jan. 18 to May 4 at New York City's Shubert Theatre, according to his official fan club website. Aiken will play the role of Sir Robin in the award-winning musical.

"Clay Aiken is amazing beyond that glorious voice," "Spamalot" Director Mike Nichols said in a statement. "Turns out he is an excellent comic actor and a master of character."

America is also about to find out if Aiken is a smarty pants. The performer is slated to appear on the celebrity edition of FOX-TV game show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" He'll play the game to earn money for The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which helps children with special needs. The episode is scheduled to air Nov. 1.

Aiken has sold more than 6 million albums since becoming the second-season runner-up on FOX-TV's "American Idol," according to his fan club website. His latest set, "A Thousand Different Ways," surfaced last fall and debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200. The record comprises cover versions of love songs spanning the last three decades, along with four new tunes.

Tour Itinerary

tour dates and tickets
October 2007
26 - New York, NY - Avery Fisher Hall (Neil Sedaka tribute)

November 2007
6 - Las Vegas, NV - The Orleans ("Holiday Celebration on Ice")
26 - Wichita, KS - Central Christian Church
27 - Saint Louis, MO - Fox Theatre
28 - South Bend, IN - Morris Auditorium
29 - Waukegan, IL - Genesee Theatre
30 - Kalamazoo, MI - Miller Auditorium

December 2007
2 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
4 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - F.M. Kirby Center
6 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
7 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
8 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Mid-Hudson Civic Center
9 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
11 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Theatre
12 - Easton, PA - State Theatre
13 - Morristown, NJ - The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts
15 - Williamsport, PA - Community Arts Center
16 - Erie, PA - Erie Civic Center Complex
19 - Minneapolis, MN - Orchestra Hall
20 - Minneapolis, MN - Orchestra Hall
21 - Omaha, NE - Orpheum Theater
22 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza Theatre

Clay is currently on tour right now. He's lost weight and looking very very good. He sounds great too!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfWKqcicL48

My mom is going to the show on the 9th and she is all excited;) She has seen him proly about 7 other times;)

22 - Merrillville, IN - Star Plaza Theatre
I'll be there! I can't wait. I went last year and it was AWESOME!
:woohoo2:

Clay released a Christmas EP last year that was exclusive to Walmart and it sold out fast. There are 4 songs on it including

My Grownup Christmas List
O Come O Come Emmanuel
All Is Well
The Christmas Waltz

Starting today you can get it at iTunes