SPILLING THE BEANS

Diana DeGarmo may not have won "American Idol," but that hasn't seemed to hurt her career.

DeGarmo's debut single "Dreams" went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Singles sales chart, she just completed her Broadway debut as Penny Pingleton in "Hairspray," and she starred as Maria in "West Side Story" at the American Musical Theatre in San Jose, Calif. Not too shabby for the runner-up on the third season of the hit Fox show (Fantasia Barrino won the "American Idol" title that year).

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DeGarmo, who turned 19 last Friday, stars with Melba Moore and Cleavant Derricks in "Brooklyn The Musical," opening tonight at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Mortensen Hall.

We talked to DeGarmo by phone last week from St. Paul, Minn.

Q: You've been doing a lot of theater lately. Did you think this was going to be your career path after "American Idol?"

A: Well, definitely this time last year I wouldn't have thought of myself as being here on tour with the musical. I definitely think of myself first and foremost as a recording artist. But it's something that I definitely had done growing up. I always loved doing it, and I thought it was so much fun. ... I love being a part of the theater community, the theater world. They really are a family.

Q: Is the touring schedule hectic?

A: I worked straight from "Hairspray" to "Brooklyn." I didn't quite do a break in between. ... We only had two weeks of actual New York City rehearsals, which is a little crazy, but we were able to make it through, and I think that we have a great show.

Q: You must live out of a suitcase with all this traveling.

A: I live out of a suitcase, definitely! Everybody asks me where do I live, and I'm like, `Well, I'm kind of a gypsy at the moment.' I'm living wherever my suitcase takes me.

Q: What's it like working with Melba Moore?

A: She's fantastic. I think she's so amazingly talented. She's incredibly blessed, and I love sharing the stage with her. We sit back during a couple of songs and watch her sing; I get chills. She's a truly amazing performer.

Q: What are your career plans after "Brooklyn The Musical?"

A: There are two things, actually. I'm recording my second album. It's a hard process, on top of doing the show - doing eight shows a week, it's a little hairy sometimes. We're making it work. And literally right after I come back from "Brooklyn" I'm going on vacation for the first time in four years. I'm very, very excited.

Q: Are you dating anybody?

A: No, unfortunately, with this industry, it's very hard ... With somebody traveling to different cities each week, it can be a little crazy. But there is a time and place for everything, and I'm only going to be 19, so I'm not in like the marriage-proposal outlook anytime soon, so I'm OK.

Q: You seem so down to earth. How do you deal with the pressure of being in the public eye?

A: ... You've got to remember who you are and where you came from. That's the biggest thing. I'm a small-town girl from Snellville, Ga.; I've lived there almost all my life. I'm not a superstar by any means. ... I think if I remember where I came from, and I remember my family and my upbringing, that should keep me down to earth as much as possible.

Q: Sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders.

A: I always believe that if you give out niceness, you'll get niceness in return. Life's too short to be mean and upset about things.

Q: I have to ask about "American Idol." Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?

A: Oh, yeah, definitely. Once you go through such a stressful time with people, they become like your family members. So we do keep in touch.