After making his Broadway debut a decade ago, Aaron Carter will invade Off-Broadway next month in a starring role in The Fantasticks. The former pop star will make his debut in the long-running production on Nov. 7 at the Snapple Theatre Center.
“I’m so excited to be apart of this amazing cast of brilliant actors,” says Carter, who takes over the role of Matt, on Twitter. “The whole team makes this experience great!”
As a teen pop star, Carter notched hits like “Oh Aaron,” “Aaron’s Party (Come Get It)” and “That’s How I Beat Shaq,” and was cast in a supporting role in Seussical in 2001. In January, Carter entered a Southern California rehab facility for “emotional and spiritual issues,” delaying a musical comeback he has been trying to launch after releasing his most recent album, Another Earthquake, in 2002.
Carter was released from the rehab facility in February, and according to a Twitter post, the singer has been attending every performance of The Fantasticks to study up for his debut.
“Never in the 51-year-history of The Fantasticks have we opted to cast someone with Aaron Carter’s level of fame, instead quietly enjoying our reputation for giving many future stars their first professional performing gig,” says Fantasticks lyricist-book writer Tom Jones in a statement (via Playbill). “But when I saw the level of enthusiasm, professionalism and sheer talent Aaron brought to us, I knew that he would be an incredibly exciting addition to The Fantasticks family.”
