In the vibrant heart of New York City, Lea Salonga took to the Manhattan stage last spring and delivered a unique rendition of “Edelweiss” from “The Sound of Music,” typically reserved for the paternal character Captain von Trapp. This performance was part of MCC Theater’s annual “Miscast” gala, now celebrating its 25th anniversary by releasing an album featuring top musical theater talent performing songs from roles they wouldn’t traditionally be cast in. The album is set for release on March 28.
Alongside Salonga, the album showcases performances by Broadway luminaries such as Eva Noblezada, Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan, Ben Platt, Kelli O’Hara, Katrina Lenk, Stephanie J. Block, Rachel Zegler, Raúl Esparza, Heather Headley, Aaron Tveit, and Gavin Creel. Rachel Zegler transformed into her inner ogre with “Who I’d Be” from “Shrek,” while Katrina Lenk took on Tevye’s “If I Were a Rich Man” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” Meanwhile, Heather Headley, known for her role as Nala in “The Lion King,” opted for Simba’s heartfelt ballad “Endless Night.”
Scott Galina, who oversees musical programming at MCC, explains the album’s diverse nature: “We have some songs that are funny and silly, some that alter the meaning with a different voice, and some that are just extraordinary talents singing iconic songs, which is enough.” This diversity captures the wide range of a “Miscast” performance’s potential impact.
A standout track includes a live duet of “Take Me or Leave Me” from “Rent” by Aaron Tveit and Gavin Creel, capturing a moment made poignant by Creel’s passing the previous year. Jonathan Groff and Jeremy Jordan complement the collection with their rendition of the empowering “Let Me Be Your Star” from “Smash.”
Eva Noblezada offers a powerful take on “Go the Distance” from “Hercules,” while Ben Platt adopts a green mood for Elphaba’s “The Wizard and I” from “Wicked.” Kelli O’Hara delivers a touching version of “Beautiful City” from “Godspell,” and married couple Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson perform “The Human Heart” from “Once on This Island.”
“There’s not a track on the album that you think, ‘Oh, I’ll skip this,’” states Will Van Dyke, musical director for “Miscast” for the past six years. “That’s my goal—never to have a skip track on there.”
MCC Theater, a nonprofit off-Broadway company, has been thrilling audiences with its “Miscast” surprises since 2001 and even adapted to online formats during the pandemic. For the new album, artists were asked to recreate their live performances in the studio, offering a polished sound.
Selecting performances spanning decades for the “MCC Theater’s Miscast: The Studio Sessions,” a 12-album collection, was challenging. However, certain renditions stood out for their lasting appeal. Notably, Katrina Lenk still receives praise for her performance of “If I Were a Rich Man.”
The next “Miscast” event is scheduled for April 7 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, where Sheryl Lee Ralph and MCC Youth Company alum and artist Travis Raeburn will be honored. This year’s lineup includes Tituss Burgess, Cole Escola, Jordan Fisher, Steven Pasquale, Nicole Scherzinger, Britton Smith, Phillipa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, Jordan Tyson, Michael Urie, and Aaron Tveit. Proceeds from the gala and the album will support MCC Theater.
Over the years, “Miscast” has mirrored Broadway’s evolving landscape, embracing unconventional casting choices across race, gender, and age. As Scott Galina highlights, a recent gender-swapped “Company” production reimagined the male lead Bobbie as a woman. “Years ago, women would sing ‘Being Alive’ from ‘Company,’ but now a woman plays Bobbie on Broadway—there are no limitations anymore, which is fantastic.”