SYTYCD's Will Wingfield Joins Broadway's "In The Heights"

So You Think You Can Dance is taking over the world!

First Lacey Schwimmer, Dmitry Chaplin and Chelsie Hightower infiltrated Dancing with the Stars, Travis Wall returned triumphantly as a choreographer on the show, Kherington Payne got cast in the remake of Fame and Neil Haskell showed up Off-Broadway in Altar Boyz and on Broadway in 9 to 5. Now Season 4's Will Wingfield will be the new "Graffiti Pete" in In the Heights!

I saw Will, who was egregriously kicked off in the Top 8 of SYTYCD two seasons ago, this summer at City Center Encore's The Wiz, where he played the head monkey. Though he didn't have much to do, he danced fabulously, and certainly had more energy than star Ashanti. I mean...

Also coming to the Great White Way this fall is Season 3 runner-up Danny Tidwell, who will be a featured dancer in Memphis. Love!

Now we just gotta find a place for Katee Sheean and Janette Manrara!

Trailer: MTV's American Mall, Starring So You Think You Can Dance's Neil Haskell

If you're still jonesing for a High School Musical fix and the new Jonas Brothers movie isn't your cup of tea, perhaps you'll enjoy American Mall, an original musical on MTV starring, among others, So You Think You Can Dance's Neil Haskell. The film premieres on MTV August 11.

Here's a trailer for the film:

And here's a video of Neil discussing his role in the film:

READ -- THEATER REVIEW: Neil Haskell in Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz

Theater Review: So You Think You Can Dance's Neil Haskell in Altar Boyz

Theater and reality TV is sometimes a delicious mix (Fantasia in The Color Purple, MTV's current Legally Blonde: The Search For Elle Woods) and other times a total disaster (Grease: You're the One That I Want). So I went into last night's performance of the long-running Off-Broadway hit Altar Boyz, now starring So You Think You Can Dance finalist Neil Haskell, both excited and with a healthy bit of skepticism.

Well, I'll be...it was great!

I had seen the show several years ago when it first opened, then starring Friday Night Lights' Scott Porter, Legally Blonde: The Musical's Andy Karl, and the comic genius Tyler Maynard (now starring in Broadway's The Little Mermaid), and I'm happy to report that it was just as funny last night as it was back then. Much of that credit must go to Ryan Ratliff, who had me (and my friends) in stitches as Mark, the obviously gay member of the group in love with his fellow Altar Boy Matthew. With his physical and vocal tics and spot-on timing, he slayed me over and over and over again.

But what about Neil?

Clearly his dancing was fabulous -- he was effortlessly sexy in the group numbers, and totally shone in his solo moments. His singing, which I had been most concerned about, was actually better than expected -- not quite up to the level of his fellow castmembers, but certainly not an embarrassment. And though he was probably miscast as the tough, thuggish Luke, he acted the part with aplomb, landing lots of laughs with his deadpan delivery.

But let's be honest -- aside from his dancing, Neil's greatest strength is his smile. Oh -- that smile! Those dimples! He is truly one fine specimen of a man. And don't even get me started on that body...

I'm just saying. (Click here for some lovely [and revealing] photos of Neil)

Yep, I'd chalk this one up to another hit for the theater/reality TV connection. Between the laughs, the dancing, and the eye candy, Neil and the rest of the Boyz definitely merit a trip to New World Stages.

To purchase tickets to Altar Boyz, visit http://www.telecharge.com/.

Twelve Best So You Think You Can Dance Performances of All Time (With Video!)

As we gear up for this year's Top 20, here's my list of the 12 best So You Think You Can Dance performances of all time. Click on any dance to watch the video and see my thoughts on why it made the cut.

And click here to read So You Think You Can Dance Top 20: Bring. It. On.

Viva la dance!

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Travis and Heidi's Contemporary at #1

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Benji and Heidi's Mambo at #2

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Kameron and Lacey's Contemporary at #3

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Ivan and Allison's Contemporary at #4

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Hok and Jaimie's Jazz at #5

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Neil and Sabra's Jazz at #6

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Nick and Melody's Broadway at #7

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances: Danny and Lacey's Samba at #8

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances of All Time: Ivan and Allison's Hip Hop at #9

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances of All Time: Danny and Anya's Viennese Waltz at #10

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances of All Time: Benji and Donyelle's Broadway at #11

Twelve Best SYTYCD Dances of All Time: Blake and Ashley's Salsa at #12

And The Best SYTYCD Group Dance of All Time Is...

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So You Think You Can Dance's Neil Will Join Off-Broadway Cast of Altar Boyz

Neil Haskell live and in person. In a small theater. I am so there.

The So You Think You Can Dance third place finisher will join the Off-Broadway cast of Altar Boyz on April 22. The show, playing at New World Stages, is about a boy-band whose goal is to spread the word of God. Haskell will play the role of Luke, joining current cast members Michael Kadin Craig, Jay Garcia, Ryan J Ratliff and Ryan Strand.

It won't be Neil's first appearance on the New York stage -- he previously appeared in the ill-advised Twyla Tharp/Bob Dylan musical The Times They Are A-Changing. I actually saw the show and remember Neil well -- admittedly more for his cute-cute-cute face than for his dancing.

Can he sing? Who cares!

Source: Playbill.com

Reliving the So You Think You Can Dance Tour -- 20 Photos!

Back in October, four friends and I headed out to Long Island, NY to catch the So You Think You Can Dance tour. Danny and Neil and Lacey -- oh my!

While I personally thought this year's concert didn't live up to the sensational show last year's group put on, it was still a treat to see my favorite dances from the season -- Lacey and Kameron's Contemporary, Sabra and Neil's Table Dance, Hok and Jaimie's Bird Dance and much, much more.

My good pal Karen took some amazing photos at the concert, and, due to time constraints, I never got a chance to post them. So, despite the fact that the tour is now over, I thought I'd take this opportunity to post a few of the photos -- they're just too good not to display.

Enjoy!

Parting Shots of Beautiful Neil Haskell

He may not have won the top prize, but Neil Haskell certainly won the hearts of many, with his acrobatic tricks and beautiful smile. His performance in the Mia Michaels flower dance was one of the highlights of the season, while his Mandy Moore jazz dance, paso doble, and hip hop with Lauren will not soon be forgotten.

Oh yeah, and his body's okay, too.

That body!

Here are some pics that will ensure you don't forget SYTYCD's prettiest boy. (More can be found here)

Idol Thoughts loves ya, Neil!

Now For The Hard Part -- Who Is Going To Win SYTYCD?

Okay...

I've recapped and ranked last night's performances (click here)

I've given my Idol Thoughts endorsement (click here)

So what's next? Oh yeah -- figuring out who is actually going to take home the prize.

After much deliberation, here is how I think it is going to play out...

Fourth Place: Lacey Schwimmer
How could the girl who has never been in the Bottom 2 or 3 finish in only 4th place? Part of the problem may be that Lacey is too good, too consistent -- the audience may have started to take for granted that she was going to deliver excellence almost every performance. The other part of the problem is that Lacey's solos have been borderline terrible, and her final showing, the Lindy Hop, was an amateurish disaster. She would be a deserving winner, but I'm afraid she's going to have to settle for 4th place.

Third Place: Neil Haskell
Like Nigel said, Neil peaked at the right time, and if the screaming girls had their say, Neil would definitely be the champion. He's got a shot, but I think he's going to come up short -- gorgeous and talented as he may be, he doesn't have the technical chops of Danny or the joyful spirit of Sabra, so I'm guessing he's gonna miss out on a Top 2 finish.

Second Place: Sabra Johnson
Sabra is a true joy to watch, and everyone I know who watches this show absolutely adores her. If there is going to be a female winner this year, it will almost undoubtedly be her. However, I think she dropped the ball last night -- her solo and hip-hop were just-ok, and while she was great in both the jazz and cha cha, she didn't seem to sparkle like she has been the last week. Still, don't count the little spitfire out.

First Place: Danny Tidwell
Yes, I may be biased, since I also gave Danny the Idol Thoughts Endorsement, but I think he was so mind-bogglingly spectacular last night that he may just have propelled himself to victory. That solo!! I mean!! We all know the "best dancer" isn't the one who wins, but I think in this case he just might.

What do you think? Who's gonna win this thing?

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Youtube Videos From Last Night's Show

Relive last night before tonight's winner is announced! C'mon, it's fun!

(Later this week I'm going to post youtube videos from memorable dances from the past two seasons -- get psyched!)

The Top 4 Finalists getting their Broadway on:



Danny and Neil showing us how the boys do it:



Danny and Lacey's breathtaking Viennese Waltz:



Lacey and Sabra's wacked out and wonderful Wade Robson routine: