, a finalist on the fourth season of American Idol in 2005, is breaking into theater. The 30-year-old will join the cast of The Wedding Singer in early September in the role of Sammy, the not-so-bright bandmate of the title character. Maroulis has signed on for an eight-week run in the show, replacing Matthew Saldivar.

While attending the Boston Conservatory of Music and Berklee College of Music, Maroulis appeared onstage in shows such as Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Jesus Christ Superstar. In 2002, he apprenticed at the Williamstown Theater Festival, where he appeared alongside Ron Leibman and Diane Venora in Donald Margulies' God of Vengeance.

For most of the next year, he toured North America and Asia as Roger in Rent and began his own rock band, Pray for the Soul of Betty. Among the highlights of Maroulis's stint on American Idol was his rendition of "My Funny Valentine" during the show's Broadway theme week. Although he was voted off (Carrie Underwood eventually won), he became one of the show's most popular finalists.

Last summer, Maroulis toured North America with the other Idol finalists and performed his version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" on The Tonight Show in support of his inclusion on Hollywood Records' Killer Queen tribute CD. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native is currently at work on his solo debut album, with an EP planned for early fall, and a full length release set for 2007.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.