From Alabama bars to Asian arenas, mall Easter Bunny to Broadway, unknown to mocking "Saturday Night Live" skits, Taylor Hicks, that gray-haired, harmonica player of fickle "American Idol" fame, has had an unlikely ride.

In 2006, Mr. Hicks' fans, the Soul Patrol, voted him into first place to win the coveted (and disparaged) "Idol" crown. Since then he has enjoyed the highs -- No. 1 and No. 2 Billboard slots for his debut single and album, respectively -- and endured the lows -- getting dumped by Arista Records two years later -- a pattern that now seems par for the course.

These days Mr. Hicks can be found wearing a costume he describes as "Liberace meets Elvis Presley meets Gram Parsons" and singing "Beauty School Dropout." For the past two years he has been touring the country, playing the role of Teen Angel in Broadway's version of "Grease." Last week, he took some time out while in Milwaukee to talk about the show, his unlikely Broadway training and why being the greatest musician in the world won't get you anywhere if you just sit in your room.

What's your schedule been like since you started touring with "Grease"? I see you're coming to Pittsburgh from Milwaukee then to Buffalo and Ontario. How many days out of the year are you on the road?

Let's not talk days, let's talk years. I've been on the road four years straight. I think I left when I was 28 and I think I'm 33 now. It's been one big blur, but it's been one big fun blur.

How does that affect your songwriting? Is it hard to find time to write and squeeze in time for your own music when you're constantly on the road like that?

You have to be disciplined. You have to just, you know, find that creative outlet. And, to a certain degree, I've had a blast building the character of Teen Angel and the role. Thinking of things that could work and you know, just having the discipline to have a creative outlet.

Performing in a musical like "Grease," does it take a different kind of discipline and stamina than performing with a band?

It's interesting. I spent two years of performing music for an hour and 45 minutes five nights a week. This has been kind of a reprieve to a certain degree. And it is a grueling process, but, for me in the role, it's not as physically demanding. But what you do with your time on stage has been the most challenging.

How's it the most challenging?

You just have to make sure when you're on stage, you have to make sure you make the most impact, to leave the most remark. That's the key for my role as Teen Angel and also coming out and singing the encore performance with every encore show.

If five years ago, before you won "American Idol," if someone told you you'd be touring with "Grease," what would you have said?

I would have probably said they were crazy. But now that I've gotten into this arena it's just been a wonderful combination for me as a live performer and me as a musician to kind of bring some of my strengths as a performer out and Broadway has done that.

Were you into Broadway or theater as a kid?

I never did theater. Only twice as Santa Claus when I was a kid ... which was kind of interesting.

When did you play Santa Claus?

The Christmas play in eighth grade and the Christmas play in second grade. I just remember them stuffing me. I must've been a cross between Santa Claus and Stay Puft (Ghostbuster's Marshmallow Man) 'cause I just remember being stuffed with a bunch of pillows. I'll go even one step further. I was the Easter Bunny at the local shopping mall as well. I've been able to be quite a few interesting characters in my time.

When were you the Easter Bunny?

I was the Easter bunny when I was 16 to 17. It's not the most ideal characters for training for Broadway, but it'll do, you know.

Do you have a new appreciation or critical eye for musicals now?

I'm still just in the very beginning stages of the musicals and theaters. I've definitely caught the acting bug through it. I'm really blessed that I've had the opportunity. I know how hard it is to get to Broadway.

Will you do more in the future?

If the right role came along, I would definitely do some.

Music wise, do you have anything new in the works?

I do actually. I'm planning on working on a record during the summer of this year. And hopefully releasing it soon.

As Teen Angel, you're the voice of reason and wisdom. Is there anything you've learned since winning "American Idol" that you'd want current contestants to know?

To stay in the business, you know, work and tour as much as you can. ... Make sure you tour. That's the thing. You have to be out there and tour and be with the people. People want to know that you're tangible.

So some people would say that participating in "American Idol" discredits musicians and their work. Do you think people take your music less seriously than they would have maybe had you not won "American Idol"?

Um ... yeah, I think ... it does. ... The thing that I was always taught by older musicians is not how you get there, it's if you get there. And I think when you get there is ... the most important part is what you do with it when you get there. Does that make sense? And I think any way that you can get there is the way that you should get there. I think ... you gotta find a way to expose yourself. You can't just sit in your house and be a great musician. You have to get out there.

"Grease" comes to the Benedum Center March 9-14. Tickets cost $22-$66. Call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pgharts.org.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.