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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It is that time. One of the most cost prohibitive sources of entertainment and enlightenment is giving us a break. Or a discount. Who cares! You can get theater tickets on the cheap!

Nycgo.com Is offering 2 for 1 tickets with several participating Broadway show Jan. 19 – Feb 5th. That is all week. But, this is New York you say. You’re Broke with a capital “B.” In order to persuade you to partake in a once a year offering, we have five reasons why you need to take advantage of this awesome event.

5. Impress a date. Your date is most likely tired of $2 pizza in the Village followed by a brisk walk back uptown cause you spent your train fair on aforementioned pizza. Yes, tickets are expensive, but 2 for 1 allows you to kinds of ball al little bit. You will impress your date, throw in a real dinner and you might get married next year.

4. It’s just so damn cost efficient. Okay, if an average ticket costs $130-$140 (RIDICULOUS) for a ticket and you get two for that amount you just doubled your effort just by going to a website.

3. The show that got away. I know there is a show that you wanted to see but, not as much a Color Purple or Hamilton, so many other good musicals or plays got the shaft. Now is your chance to catch up on one of those great shows.

2. Hollywood is here. So if you want to see huge star power this isn’t the number for you. But if you want to see a hilarious, hardworking entertainer, go see Wayne Brady in Kinky Boots. It’s an amazing show and Brady lights up the stage.

1. It’s Broadway. It’s Broadway. It is Broadway. The theater is already one of the few great American institutions. It’s like finding couture in a bargain bin. When it happens. You don’t question. You just go.

The post Five Reasons to Get in on 2 for 1 NYC Broadway Week appeared first on Broadway Black.

David Alan Grier & Stanley Wayne Mathis – The Producers
When I went to see Porgy & Bess with the brilliant Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis, I was less than enthused that Grier, that guy from TV’s “In Living Color,” would be making an appearance.  Clearly, I was ill-informed.  The Yale School of Drama alum approached the role with a wisdom, a professionalism and a personality that made me reevaluate every misconception I’d had.  His charisma has since had me pining to see him recreate the  role of Max Bialystock originated by Nathan Lane with Mathis as his sidekick, Leopold Bloom. With Grier’s comedic cunning, just a twinge of Mathis’ Schroeder-like wit, and some obvious tweaks to the cultural references, this duo could possibly pull off “the biggest flop in history.”

Nicholas Christopher & Nikki Renee Daniels – The Music Man
I’ve seen Christopher in a few roles, mostly contemporary pieces, and to say he is charming would be an understatement.  But many aren’t familiar with his straight-toned, classical music style and I’d love to see him bring that to the stage as the smooth-talking, fast-walking Professor Harold Hill with Daniels as the sensible and sensitive Marian…the Librarian.  Daniels’ performance in Porgy and Bess proved that she has the vocal timbre to handle the traditional Meredith Wilson score and, quite honestly, I’d just love to see their chemistry on stage.

Audra McDonald – St. Louis Woman
This show is already traditionally done with an all-Black cast. Most recently, it was seen as part of the City Center Encores Series with Vanessa Williams starring as the belle of St. Louis, Della Green.  However, I dream that Ms. McDonald recreates the role of Lila, the scorned, jilted lover who murders her cheating man, because that’s pretty much what we expect from an Audra performance and what she does best – dark with just a twinge of crazy.

In my excitement to devise my Broadway wish list, I came across only one problem: my performer list was too short.  I found myself coming up with the same male lead or the same female protagonist, reminding me that though the pool is expanding, we have yet to reach the level of equality that we strive for in this field.  We are still outnumbered and often discounted, but art is universal and diversity is on the rise.  We’re heading towards an era where inclusive casting won’t even need to be articulated.  Go ahead and take it in: non-traditional is the new normal.

The post BB Casting Agency: The Music Man & More appeared first on Broadway Black.

You don’t get into this business to be you,” he says. “I got into show business because I wanted to dress up as an old man on a park bench. I wanted to be an action hero. I wanted to be the drug dealer. I wanted to be a knight. I wanted to be Robin Hood. I wanted to be whatever else besides Wayne. So playing Lola is as far from Wayne as I could possibly be. A British drag queen who was an amateur boxer? Bingo.

Kinky Boots was deemed “The hottest musical on Broadway” by the New York Times.  According to the website,

Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits his father’s shoe factory. Looking to save the family business, Charlie turns to a fabulously fashionable new friend — cabaret star Lola— who gives him an outrageous idea that could change both of their destinies.

That outrageous idea is to make women’s shoes for men, which propels the business to success. Brady previously tried out for the role but lost out to Billy Porter. Porter recently left the production to join the cast of Shuffle Along. When the opportunity came back around, Brady jumped at the chance. Of the character, Brady says,

Lola is a very charming, lovely, feisty person who is really just this very deeply hurt, flawed individual,” Brady says. “I think I can bring a warmth to Lola that will be funny and bring all the comedy to it, and then when it’s time to turn on a dime, then that’ll help that.

In preparation for the role, Brady told CBS news,

I’m buying a pair of … heels … because I have enough time right now that I can actually walk around my house and dance around. I don’t want to show up for rehearsals in November and just learn to put on heels.

While he has only been in the role for a few days, his enthusiasm and appreciation for the role are sure to help make sure he shines.

What weekend! @WayneBrady blew the roof off of the Al Hirschfeld! Who is coming to see him strut this week? pic.twitter.com/RhaxLNniIe

— Kinky Boots the Musical (@KinkyBootsBway) November 23, 2015

Kinky Boots is currently running at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and tickets can be purchased HERE. Let us know what you think of Brady as Lola in Kinky Boots!

The post Wayne Brady Puts On His Kinky Boots appeared first on Broadway Black.

“Leave that humdrum place of glum behind
Once you walk inside these doors, you’re mine
Now let me blow your mind.”

And for two years, audience members who’ve seen Tony Award winner Billy Porter excel as “Lola” have been captivated and had their minds blown by his performance. Unfortunately, Porter soon will put “Lola’s” stilettos on the shelf as he embarks upon his next Broadway venture in the upcoming musical revival Shuffle Along or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.

Porter, who also won a Drama Desk Award for this role, has starred in Kinky Boots since the musical had its 2012 pre-Broadway premiere in Chicago. In addition to awards, he has received resounding critical acclaim for his performance. Thom Geier from “Entertainment Weekly” once wrote that Porter “portrays drag queen Lola with enough sequined swagger to make RuPaul look like a wallflower. Thanks to Porter’s star-making turn, Kinky Boots delivers some pumps-up kicks.”

His final performance as “Lola” will be November 20. We’ll miss Porter’s electrifying performances but we’re tremendously excited about his next role.

Thank you @PorterBacks. It's been a helluva journey!! pic.twitter.com/s4sSxMLBiU

— Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) November 1, 2015

For those who are wondering who can possibly fill “Lola’s” stilettos, don’t fret. Porter is handing over Lola’s heels to someone who’s equally capable of sashaying around the stage. Funny man and all-around performer Wayne Brady is set to take on the role beginning November 21. If you want to see him strut his stuff, tickets can be purchased here.

Wayne Brady as Lola in Kinky Boots.

Everybody say FABULOUS! @WayneBrady struts into Lola's sparkly red boots 11/21! https://t.co/DflgFobJDu pic.twitter.com/wXcT07E4eN

— Kinky Boots the Musical (@KinkyBootsBway) November 6, 2015

The post Billy Porter Hangs Up Lola’s Kinky Boots & Welcomes Wayne Brady appeared first on Broadway Black.

Wayne Brady is no stranger to the stage. He is probably best known for his role on the improv comedy series “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” but he appeared in the hit musical Chicago as Billy Flynn back in 2004. He later played Collins in a Neil Patrick Harris directed production of RENT at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010. He also starred in a production of Kiss Me Kate at the Pasadena Playhouse last year. So he’s pretty well equipped for the challenge that is “Lola,” it seems.

“I’m thrilled to join the Kinky Boots family and unleash my inner Lola,” says Brady. “It’s the role of a lifetime! Billy and his prodigious talent have left some pretty big red boots for me to fill. Starring in a Broadway show of this caliber has been my dream since I started performing at age 16. I’m ready to jump in with both feet!”

“Wayne Brady is a wonderful triple threat. I first had the pleasure of working with Wayne on a Disney film and have been a fan ever since,” adds Kinky Boots director Jerry Mitchell. “Like Lola, he has the sass, the voice and the heart and we cannot wait to see him strut his stuff when he joins the Kinky Boots family!”

Kinky Boots is a British film turned Broadway smash hit about Charlie Price who is the owner of a failing shoe factory. However, he soon finds that Lola, a sassy drag queen, has the answer to save his factory. It’s a wonderful musical, truly enjoyed by the whole family.  This is a great role for Brady. Like he said, he’s got some big boots to fill. The musical score was created by Cyndi Lauper and the book by Harvey Fierstein.

This photo is credited to Joan Marcus and was first seen on Vanity Fair. Accompanying the photo was a article that discussed several things, including Wayne Brady’s drag name. Her name is Cinnamon de Bergerac and she will be appearing in L.A. really really soon, he says. Brady wants to try out the alter ego before heading to Broadway. In the interview he also says:

“I’ll really be going in, and making something of it. After we did our photo shoot, I saw some of the proof pictures. And I’ve gotta say, while I won’t be winning any beauty contests, I definitely think that I’m a very attractive Lola—and you don’t see any of Wayne Brady there, you definitely see Lola.”

Read the entire article HERE

The post First Look: Wayne Brady as Lola In Kinky Boots appeared first on Broadway Black.

Perhaps that was a bit of foreshadowing of what was to come. It’s absolutely fitting that Brady teamed up with the one and only Wilkie Ferguson, the superbly talented pianist and mastermind behind the wildly popular HipHopMusicals web series. The description of the series on the official Twitter page keeps it short and sweet,

We take your favorite Hip Hop songs and redo them in a way you never imagined!

Ferguson, whom we previously wrote about as a musical theatre composer to watch for, has collaborated with the likes of Broadway performer and American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis and stage, film and television actor Thomas Hobson for his creative reworkings of current Hip Hop chart toppers. 

So just what happens when you put Wayne Brady and Wilkie Ferguson together? A hilariously groovy and soulful rendition of Rihanna’s epic bad girl rant BBHMM.

Ferguson has been getting all kind of buzz for his remixes and we cannot get enough!

Woo! RT @hiphopmusicals: Hiphopmusicals has been praised by USA Today and now Billboard Magazine! #hiphopmusicals http://t.co/eUIKENZT6G

— Thomas Hobson (@TommyHobson) July 16, 2015

The Hip Hop Musical series is certainly worth a subscription and we can’t wait to see what Ferguson comes up with next! With whom would you like to see him collaborate?

The post Wayne Brady & Hip Hop Musicals Bring Us #BBHMM by Rihanna appeared first on Broadway Black.

Wayne Brady is no stranger to the stage he is probably best known for his role on the improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? but he appeared in the hit musical Chicago as Billy Flynn back in 2004. He later played Collins in a Neil Patrick Harris directed production of RENT at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010. He also starred in a production of Kiss Me Kate at the Pasadena Playhouse last year. So, he’s pretty well equipped for the challenge that is “Lola” it seems.

“I’m thrilled to join the Kinky Boots family and unleash my inner Lola,” says Brady. “It’s the role of a lifetime! Billy and his prodigious talent have left some pretty big red boots for me to fill. Starring in a Broadway show of this caliber has been my dream since I started performing at age 16. I’m ready to jump in with both feet!”

“Wayne Brady is a wonderful triple threat. I first had the pleasure of working with Wayne on a Disney film and have been a fan ever since,” adds Kinky Boots director Jerry Mitchell said. “Like Lola, he has the sass, the voice and the heart and we cannot wait to see him strut his stuff when he joins the Kinky Boots family!”

Kinky Boots is a British film turned Broadway smash hit about Charlie Price who is the owner of a failing shoe factor. However, he soon finds that Lola, a sassy drag queen, has the answers to save his factory. It’s a wonderful musical, truly enjoyed by the whole family.  This is a great role for Brady like he said, he’s got some big boots to fill. The musical score was created by Cyndi Lauper and the book by Harvey Fierstein.

Now, lets take a look back at what Wayne Brady brings to the theatre table. Listen to his rendition of “I’ll Cover You” From RENT.

The post Wayne Brady Will Be The New Lola In Kinky Boots appeared first on Broadway Black.