Butz, Esparza, Gasteyer, Krakowski, LaChanze Are Miscast for MCC Benefit

By Ernio Hernandez
January 30, 2007

Norbert Leo Butz, Raúl Esparza, Ana Gasteyer, Jane Krakowski, LaChanze and Josh Strickland are among the stars who will be Miscast for MCC Theatre's annual benefit.

Miscast 2007 will take place March 12 in The Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios, located at 311 West 34th Street (between 8th and 9th Ave.).

As usual (or unusual), Miscast features Broadway performers singing popular Broadway show tunes — but for roles in which they would never be cast. This year's roster of stars will include Tony Award winners Norbert Leo Butz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Jane Krakowski (Nine, "30 Rock") and LaChanze (The Color Purple) as well as Raúl Esparza (Company), Ana Gasteyer (Wicked), Josh Strickland (Tarzan) and more to be announced.

Last year's audience was treated to such mismatched performances as Hairspray star Diana DeGarmo belting "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls, Sweeney Todd's Michael Cerveris tackling Nine's "Unusual Way", Felicia P. Fields (The Color Purple) swooning in The Sound of Music's "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" and pop singer-turned Broadway diva Deborah Gibson rocking out on Rent's "One Song Glory."

Past performances have included Kristin Chenoweth and Harvey Fierstein playing husband and wife, respectively, in the Fiddler on the Roof duet "Do You Love Me?", Rent's Daphne Rubin-Vega singing "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music, Amy Spanger bellowing Show Boat's "Ol' Man River" and Mamma Mia! star Louise Pitre performing "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha.

The evening will also honor producers Kevin McCollum and Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) "for their commitment to producing new and innovative work and reaching new audiences both on and Off-Broadway." Proceeds from the benefit go towards MCC's programs.

Miscast begins with 6:30 PM cocktails and a silent auction. At 7:30 PM, the dinner and award presentation will begin followed by dessert and an 8:45 PM performance. Tickets range from $350-$2,500. Tables of ten are available for $7,500-$25,000. Reservations can be made by calling (212) 727-7722, ext. 239.

For more information on MCC visit www.mcctheater.com.