Adding to the star power of the event are newly announced performers including Wayne Brady from The Wiz and Kinky Boots, Amber Iman of Lempicka and Hamilton fame, Mykal Kilgore known for “Jesus Christ Superstar: Live” and Motown the Musical, and Jinkx Monsoon, recognized for roles in Little Shop of Horrors and Chicago. These talented artists will join previously announced performers such as Gavin Creel, Brian d’Arcy James, Ingrid Michaelson, Lauren Patten, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Lea Salonga, Ryan Vasquez, Vanessa Williams, and Joy Woods. Musical direction for the event will be handled by Will Van Dyke.

In addition to the live event, MCC has announced that the Miscast24 Digital Broadcast will premiere on Monday, April 29, at 7 pm ET and will be available on demand through Sunday, May 5, 2024. Presented in partnership with Broadway Unlocked, the digital broadcast will feature the full gala performance from the live event on April 15, along with selected performances from the #MCCMISCASTME submissions. Tickets for the digital broadcast are available at watch.broadwayunlocked.com.

For those interested in attending the live event, show-only tickets are available for purchase on MCC Theater’s website.

Funds raised from Miscast24 will support MCC Theater’s mission to produce groundbreaking new work Off-Broadway, as well as its Youth Company and education programs for high school students. Additionally, the event contributes to MCC’s literary development efforts with emerging playwrights.

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1.Without You – Leslie Odom Jr.  

Now, we BEEN knew about Leslie since Venice (shoutout to the people who remember that gorgeous show.) We also already know this man is not only a phenomenal singer but an actor as well. I believe the Tony chilling at the crib answered that for anyone unsure. However, his solo work and concerts have shown where his true artistry lies. Rent is one of my favorite musicals of all time, as it is for many people, yet one song I never liked, is this one. I never understood it’s full weight until this cover. Leslie’s ability to take a song, digest it, and embody it is downright despicable. The man has so much control over his instrument. He manipulates his tone and air continuously to create the exact sound he wants, like a violinist adjusting their pressure or speed. I am in awe of his skill every time I watch a performance of his. 

2.I Won’t Complain – Amber Iman ft Cynthia Erivo 

You can find the gifted voices by looking at who other powerhouses love. This is a prime example of that. Cynthia Erivo brought out Amber Iman to sing I Won’t Complain for a performance back in 2016 and my GOD. The balance between the sultry, fresh jazz improv mixed with the top tier vocal training puts Amber in a league of her own. And that range!! I am always much more impressed with those deeper, rich low notes than the whistle tones. Both are impressive, but the people don’t respect the skill that those low notes take. Also, musicality. You cannot riff and run if you do not know where to run to. Let that sink in. You need to know how chords and scales work to figure out how to make all of the movement make SENSE. I’ll get off my soapbox and move on. EVEN THE MUSICIANS BEHIND HER WERE SHAKING THEIR HEADS IN DISBELIEF!

3. Take It Slow – Joshua Henry and Ciara Renée 

I love a quality duet and this is as quality as it comes. Now both of these performers are TRAINED and I do mean TRAINED. The evidence is in the blend and the placement. Crystal clear all around. The R&B style song truly shows a side of both of these artists that we don’t get from them on the Great “White” Way. However, their impeccable intonation isn’t even my favorite part of this piece. It’s chemistry. The storytelling is something to behold. Look at them still possess beats and an arc even in a stand-alone performance. I don’t know anything about this plot and yet I got a full story. This article is about vocals, but vocals mean nothing in this industry if you don’t have some acting skills to back it up. Period. 

4. She Used To Be Mine – Tiffany Mann

This song has a lot of covers that HIT, ok? However, this flips the song on its head. Tiffany Mann has always had the kind of voice that makes you have to get up and run a lap. Tiffany was actually in this show, and her knowledge of the text is incredibly evident. The gospel arrangement elevates the piece and the lines pack a punch I have never felt with this piece. Now, of course, there is soul all over this piece, but do you hear the placement? The dynamics? The range? I do! The end of the piece is taken up by SEVERAL steps and she is full voicing without strain. You cannot do that without training. Impossible. Being a true musician, she moves with the accompaniment and truly makes this a whole performance, not just someone doing a cover. We stan Ms. Tiffany Mann. 

5. Defying Gravity – Mykal Kilgore

If you need a mental reset. If you feel lost. Play this one. Play it in the house, in the car, in the gym. His range is a rubber band, stretching to wherever he sees fit. It feels like there is almost nothing his voice cannot do. He can give you soul, he can give you standard MT. He can give you a straight tone, and he can give you riffs and runs. He is unlimited, but just like the others, the vocal is not the only thing to gain from this piece. What starts as a gorgeous, vibrant cover turns into the inspirational speech you’ve been waiting for. Mykal’s attention to detail when it comes to music is mystifying. If you haven’t listened to his album, A Man Born Black, go now. This man cannot be torn down. His light, his skill, his vision, it’s unbreakable. His music makes me feel the same. 

The post 5 Times Our Broadway Black Faves Gave Us a Vocal Masterclass appeared first on Broadway Black.

Luckily for me and you, we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy the Mykal experience. He’s performing at the Apollo Theater on Friday, February 5 at 10pm, as part of  The Apollo Music Café series. 

Kilgore was recently seen on NBC’s broadcast of The Wiz Live! But he stole my heart with his rendition of “Crush on You” by Lyons & Pakchar. He snatched my edges with the Broadway Black exclusive video of “Defying Gravity.” He slayed me with his rendition of “My Heart Will Go On. And brought me back to life in The First Noel at The Classical Theatre of Harlem. On the stage, Kilgore has been seen in Hair, Motown the Musical, The Book of Mormon, and Marley. 

All extraness aside, Kilgore has surpassed someone to take notice of, he’s here. Living his best life.

Mykal Kilgore is originally from Florida and grew up in the church as one of nine children. His gospel roots are evident in his sound, which successfully combines a touch of gospel, soul and doo-wop. He attended Florida State University where he fell in love with theatre. Currently, Kilgore has been making waves with his work with Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern JukeBox, a rotating group of musicians producing covers of pop songs in jazz, ragtime, and swing styles. The group takes modern pop songs from artists like Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion and Lordes and reworks them into amazing vintage jazz and pop renditions. Be on the look out for his solo album coming later in 2016.

The Apollo Music Cafe Series is designed “to bring independent, cutting-edge artists to a forward-thinking audience.” This event was Curated by Dwight Jordan and will feature DJ Hard Hittin’ Harry. Get tickets HERE.

Take a look at what happened the last time Mykal was in concert below. We were there!

The post Mykal Kilgore Brings Life To The Apollo Theater’s Music Cafe appeared first on Broadway Black.

The First Noel, a commissioned work by Jason Michael Webb and Lelund Durond Thompson, has released a video from the show called “Life Happens” to give us a glimpse into this new and refreshing holiday narrative. It is, in a word, chilling. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the show shapes around this one piece of the puzzle. If this is a litmus test for the passion and creativity that has been pured into this work, I think we are all going to be in for a treat.

Following three generations of a family in Harlem, The First Noel touches on the topics of resilience, renewal, and community.  A tragic loss has stolen the holiday joy for this family, but all is well when Grandma unexpectedly comes back to town. The generous acts of many help rebuild the love and morale, one person at a time.

As previously reported, The First Noel will be on stage Dec 13-31, with previews Dec. 11-12 at The Classical Theatre of Harlem. Composer/lyricist Jason Michael Webb (Brooklyn Tabernacle, Motown: The Musical, Violet) and writer/lyricist Lelund Durond Thompson (CTH artistic associate and founder of YellaFella Entertainment) created the work over two years. The duo has re-imagined classic Christmas songs as well as created new melodies designed to become holiday favorites. The soundscape is wonderland of disco, rock and gospel genres. Tickets are limited, as the Soundstage only holds 200 people. Delight in joy of the holidays this Christmas. Get your tickets now!

And if you haven’t seen this video of the first rehearsal for the show, let me bless you.  Mykal Kilgore is in here SAAAAAAANGING!

The post Must See: First Glimpse Of The First Noel, “Life Happens”! appeared first on Broadway Black.

True to their word of incorporating amazing acrobatic feats, several of the ensemble cast have experience as Cirque du Soleil performers. We can’t wait to see how choreographer Fatima Robinson has these amazing performers soaring.

Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah & Grammy Award winner Mary J. Blige are also in the cast of The Wiz Live. Latifah will play “The Wiz”, a role originated on stage by the incomparable Andre De Shields (Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Full Monty). Blige will portray the role of “Evillene”, the horrible wicked witch known for the upbeat “Don’t Nobody Bring Me No Bad News.” In addition to Stephanie Mills as “Aunt Em,” Uzo Aduba as Glinda The Good Witch, and Amber Riley as Addaperle, also previously announced.

Tony Award winner Kenny Leon will direct & Fatima Robinson will choreograph, as previously announced. The show will also head to Broadway in 2016 with Leon directing. The Wiz for NBC will partner with Cirque du Soleil to bring the live and Broadway productions to life. William F. Brown wrote the original book of the show. This time around, Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein will add new material to the book.

The post The Wiz Live! Full Ensemble Cast is Announced appeared first on Broadway Black.

We have been long time fans of Kilgore here at Broadway Black. He was the very first voice we ever highlighted here. So what we’re sharing with you today is really special. Mykal took the time and used his God-given, heavenly angel, send us to the cross, golden vocal chords to sing us a very special rendition of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked and we PROMISE you’ve never heard it like this. Get your offering ready NOW to donate to his #KickstartKilgore campaign.

Now, you want to know how to donate right? Check it out below!

According to Kilgore’s Kickstarter page,

This project is bringing out all of the lessons I’ve learned from years of YouTubing Patti Labelle, Donny Hathaway, and James Taylor. I represent classic roots music with a modern feel. Lyrically, I’m going to go deep and sing about love, politics, God, thoughts, family… all of it is in there.

Mykal Kilgore is originally from Florida and grew up in the church as one of nine children. His gospel roots are evident in his sound, which successfully combines a touch of gospel, soul and doo wop. He attended Florida State University where he fell in love with theatre. Currently, Kilgore has been making waves with his work with Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern JukeBox, a rotating group of musicians producing covers of pop songs in jazz, ragtime, and swing styles. The group takes modern pop songs from artists like Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion and Lordes and reworks them into amazing vintage jazz and pop renditions.

#KickstartKilgore and @broadwayblack have a special treat for you guys coming in less than an hour!!!! Stay tuned!!! Broadwayblack.com #9daysleft #supportrealmusic #donate

A photo posted by Mykal (@mykalwitha_y) on Sep 21, 2015 at 5:41am PDT

Having watched his career from his first solo show, “The New Guy,” at the Triad straight through to his sold out “MYKAL@54,” I’m beyond certain that we are going to be amazed by the finished work. His project stays live until the end of September. With so much talent and flair, Mykal Kilgore’s debut album is sure to be a success. To find out more about this dynamic powerhouse, visit his website www.MykalKilgore.com.

The post Exclusive: Mykal Kilgore Defies Gravity For #KickstartKilgore Campaign appeared first on Broadway Black.

Postmodern Jukebox, headed by Scott Bradlee, features a cast of both regular and evolving vocalists, musicians and other performers, including tap dancers and tambourine players who create retro versions of popular radio standards. The group has retrofitted tunes from Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” that was reimagined as a flapper-inspired tune and turned Taylor Swift’s hit “Bad Blood” into a jazz standard. The revolving band of musicians and singers perform the songs live in Bradlee’s apartment and the videos then are posted to YouTube. Postmodern Jukebox videos currently boast over 200 million YouTube views.

Broadway aficionados are no strangers to Kilgore’s vocal talents. Known for his powerhouse vocals, he has been described as a “once-in-a-generation talent”, having starred in the hit Broadway musical Motown: The Musical playing the roles of “Dennis Edwards,” & more while also understudying the role of “Marvin Gaye.” Kilgore also appeared in The Book of Mormon as part of the 1st national touring company & recently appeared as “Stevie Wonder” in the musical Marley at Baltimore’s Centerstage.

The post Mykal Kilgore Doo-Wops My Heart Will Go On appeared first on Broadway Black.