Up next in 10
Video: Broadway Gets Miscast at Miscast23!
2K views
May 17, 2024
Miscast is one of the most anticipated and exciting theater events in New York each year. The biggest stars of stage and screen took to the stage at Hammerstein Ballroom, performing songs from roles in which they would not traditionally be cast. We are bringing you exclusive coverage from the red carpet in this video!
View Video Transcript
0:00
Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World
0:02
We're at the Hammerstein Ballroom for MCC's Miscast 23, and I caught up with the best of Broadway film and TV. ♪â™
0:21
Talk about your honorees this year. There's two of them. Tell me why you chose them and what they mean to you
0:26
Like, who doesn't love Vanessa Williams? I mean, she has made so many..
0:32
pushed the envelope so many times as a performer, as a writer, as a, you know, as an activist
0:37
And she is exactly like the way we want our artists at MCC to be
0:40
Just keep pushing the envelope, being bold, being brave, and she's just so talented
0:45
I'm so happy she's here. Incredibly excited about Liani. She came out of MCC's Youth Company Program
0:52
in Washington Heights, and she is somebody who has stayed with us
0:58
has given back to the company, come back to the Youth Company, and has used the theatrical tools that she developed
1:06
to become a therapist, a family therapist. She's an amazing young woman
1:11
How excited are you? How do you feel tonight, Vanessa? I can't wait to see the surprise
1:16
I have no idea, although I flew in from L.A. yesterday. Leah DeLaria was on my flight, and of course she goes
1:23
I'll see you tomorrow. So I know at least one surprise. I have no idea what it's going to be, though
1:29
What this theater company, MCC, means to you. They raised so much money tonight from this event
1:33
Miscast, for the shows they put on. I think it's a brilliant idea
1:38
This is my first. Bernie Telsey called me and said, we'd love to honor you
1:43
And, you know, I guess it is the season. I turned 60
1:46
It's been 40 years since I've been famous and in the business
1:50
And I guess it's apropos, so I'm excited. Gosh, I'm so excited
1:55
I grew up watching all the Miscast videos on YouTube. And the Aaron Tveit, Gavin Creel, Take Me or Leave Me
2:00
is one of my favorite videos of all time. So I'm very excited and honored to be here tonight
2:06
OK, so when they said, you're going to do Miscast 23, like, what number did you choose and why
2:11
You know, it was actually Bernie Telsey reached out to me and said, I was thinking maybe you sing a song from Shrek
2:17
because I did it in high school. And I said, that's a fantastic idea
2:21
So that's what we decided to do. And it's one of Janine Tesori's favorite songs
2:24
And Janine is my favorite person of all time and like a mother to me
2:28
So it meant a lot to be able to bring her music onto the stage tonight
2:32
This is my fourth Miscast, I think. And I look forward to it every time I get to be part of it
2:38
It's just such a blast to see people interpret things they don't get a chance to in their normal careers
2:43
And I love to get together with the community any time. I'm singing The Wizard and I from Wicked
2:49
which I got to sing on my tour. But I've never gotten to sing in a theater context
2:53
So I'm hoping it will deliver. I am so happy that MCC has gotten this much support
3:00
by the community, by those who want to support theater, to continue to make this event as special as it is
3:06
Because it's continuing to grow. I may have to have it at the Garden next year
3:11
I'm singing Heaven on Their Minds from Jesus Christ Superstar, which is a role I have wanted to play
3:18
And I still think I am one day, even if I have to produce it. And direct it
3:24
I am doing Corner of the Sky from Pippin. And I chose it, honestly, because I hear it all the time
3:36
And I mainly hear guys sing it for college, like I remember in college, for college auditions
3:41
So I was like, you know what? Let me do my own spin on it. Yeah
3:46
How excited are you to be here tonight for Miscast? Well, it's my favorite event of the year
3:51
I mean, I'm proud because I'm a board member. And I feel like of all the events
3:56
this is the one everyone wants to go to. Because you get to see all your favorite Broadway stars
4:03
doing numbers they would never be cast in. So it's just so much fun
4:07
It's the best. Well, I'm really excited because of Vanessa, which is the main reason that I'm here
4:13
But I've also always wanted to come. And it happens during the major awards season
4:20
I'm always either working, blah, blah, blah, blah. This is the first time I've been able to come
4:24
So I'm wicked excited to be here. I am so excited to be here
4:28
I've been wanting to do this all my life, literally since high school. All I used to watch were Miscast videos
4:33
while I should be doing class work. But I'm so excited to be here, finally
4:38
What are you singing tonight and why? Tonight I'm going to be singing Ladies Who Lunch
4:44
This is where you can do it at Miscast. This is where I can do it, finally. Finally
4:48
It's not just in my bathroom anymore. I'm super excited to help raise money for MCC
4:54
I love the theater. And I'm just happy to be out of my theater for just a second
4:58
What are you singing tonight? I'm singing If Ever I Should Leave You from Camelot
5:03
But I'm singing it a little different. I got a little jazz. This is your first Miscast
5:07
It's my first Miscast ever, yeah. I mean, I watched it, like videos
5:11
But I've never been a part of it or in the room where it happens, so yeah
5:15
How excited are you to be here tonight for MCC? I'm so excited
5:19
I'm mostly excited to watch everybody else's number and to get to be a part of that iconic
5:25
like we're all sitting on stage and reacting. I'm very excited for that
5:29
So I'm doing the opposite of the type that I usually am, which is a brooding, leading romantic man
5:35
I'm giving you a Moulin Rouge, Aaron Tveit moment. I am singing Bring Him Home from Les Mis
5:44
A little lullaby with my acoustical stylings. Yeah, I love the arrangement
5:51
It's really beautiful. It's a big pinch me moment, isn't it? Yes
5:56
I have been pinching myself all day. It makes me emotional to think about, yeah
6:02
It means a lot to me to see folks come out to raise money for theater
6:06
You know, I came up through the regional theater movement. I ran a nonprofit theater
6:10
I ran a small nonprofit. I ran a large nonprofit. So I know how far these dollars go
6:16
You know, and the ticket price only covers just so much of what it costs to put on a great show
6:22
And especially now with, you know, the price of wood and steel and all that's more expensive now
6:26
So this is a real special night. And we just need to dig deep tonight
6:30
and come out with some paper money to help this wonderful organization
#Acting & Theater
#Broadway & Musical Theater
#Concerts & Music Festivals
#Music & Audio
#Musical Films
#Performing Arts
#Vocals & Show Tunes