Playbill Presents the "Broadway Belt-Off Challenge"; Lance Bass Hosts

By Playbill Staff
12 Jan 2012

Host Lance Bass
Host Lance Bass

Playbill kicks off its first-ever "Broadway Belt-Off Challenge" with the casts of the Tony-winning revival of Anything Goes and the long-running Abba hit Mamma Mia! 

Playbill posed the following challenge to both Wendy Bobbitt Cavett, music director of Mamma Mia!, and James Lowe, music director of Anything Goes: Create an entirely new, a cappella arrangement of the songs in your score that show off the music in an innovative and exciting way.

Lance Bass, formerly of the pop group ‘N Sync and Corny Collins in Broadway’s Hairspray, hosts the challenge and introduces viewers to both teams.

Performers for Anything Goes include Raymond J. Lee, Clyde Alves, Ward Billiesen, Justin Greer, Mark Ledbetter, Michelle Loucadoux and Kristen Beth Willams, with cast member Daniel J. Edwards credited as co-arranger and beat-boxer.

Mamma Mia! features Gerard Salvador, Allyson Carr, Deanna Aguinaga, Halle Morse, Catherine Ricafort, Lauren Sambataro, Felicity Claire, Corinne Melançon, Judy McLane, Lisa Brescia, Jennifer Perry, AJ Fisher, Bryan Scott Johnson, Albert Guerzon, Alison Luff and Tony Gonzalez.

Videos of the challenge are now available on Playbill.com; those interested can cast their vote now through midnight on Jan. 20. Only one vote per person is allowed. Check out both teams' “Broadway Belt-Off” versions of their scores and vote here.

The team with the most votes will be crowned the winner of the first round of the “Broadway Belt-Off Challenge” and will go on to compete with the winner of round two.