Eden Lane performs from ‘Kinky Boots’ at ‘Miscast 2015.’ Photo by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

The lineup for “Miscast 2016,” a popular annual community-wide benefit for the Denver Actors Fund to be held Sept. 26 at the Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton, has just been announced – and it’s enough to make any director envious.

“Miscast 2016” is an opportunity for members of the local theatre community to sing songs and act out scenes they would never … ever! … get cast to perform on any legitimate stage. Tickets are $20 (plus fees if ordered online) and are available at 303-794-2787 or online at townhallartscenter.org.

This year, funnyman Eric Mather (The Drunken Bachelor Talk Show) will join third-year co-host Damon Guerrasio (Curious Theatre’s Water by the Spoonful) in leading the silliness. 

Among the more than 30 scheduled performers are Shannan Steele, Leslie O’Carroll, Heather Lacy, Steven J. Burge, Tim Howard, John Ashton, and members of Phamaly Theatre Company, which provides performance opportunities for actors with disabilities. (Pictured above clockwise: Damon Guerrassio, Shannan Steele, Eric Mather, Barret Harper, Tim Howard and Heather Lacy.)

This year’s event will include many fun twists, such as a series of games a la Jimmy Fallon and other late-night TV hosts. Many area merchants and theatres have contributed prizes. To read about last year’s event, or to see photos, click here.

Miscast is the major annual fundraiser for The Denver Actors Fund, which provides financial and practical services to members of the local theatre community who find themselves in situational medical need. In just three years, this grassroots nonprofit has raised $120,000 to help local artists.

Each Miscast applicant submitted a proposed song and a ‘Miscast concept’ for judges to consider. All applications were considered by a special selection committee based on variety, cleverness and uniqueness, among other factors.

Now in its third year as a Denver Actors Fund benefit event, Director Robert Michael Sanders again received far more submissions than he had performance slots.

“This year’s turnout was completely overwhelming,” said Sanders. As thanks, everyone who applied will be invited to attend Miscast 2016 as a guest of the Denver Actors Fund and Town Hall Arts Center. (Pictured right: Leslie O’Carroll and Megan Van De Hey performing from ‘The Book of Mormon’ last year.)

“We made the choices we think best suit this year’s show,” said Sanders, who called the resulting list “the best cross-section of talent from many different theaters, types and styles of performances.”

While the list of scheduled performers has been announced, their actual Miscast musical numbers will remain a secret until the night of the show on Sept. 26. Last year featured an aging (and male) Annie, a pair of female The Book of Mormon Elders, a hot-potato national anthem, and a high-heeled local TV personality who brought the house down with her Kinky Boots. For starters.

“It may be all wrong … but it feels so right,” said Sanders.

Photos from ‘Miscast 2015.’ To see more, click on the forward arrow on the image above. Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

MISCAST 2016:

Hosts:
Damon Guerrasio
Eric Mather

Performers (in alphabetical order; subject to change):
John Ashton
Donovan Arterburn III
Brock Benson
Steven J. Burge
Chelley Canales
Colby Dunn
Sydney Fairbairn
Evan Gibley
John Greene
Barret Harper
Clint Heyn
Anna High
Kaden Hinkle
Tim Howard
Rebecca Joseph
Hannah Katz
Darrow Klein
Heather Lacy
Wade Livingston
Emma C. Martin
Suzanne Nepi
Carter Novinger
Preston Novinger
Leslie O’Carroll
Arlene Rapal
Shannan Steele
Regina Steffen
Hannah Meg Weintrau

Crew
Director: Robert Michael Sanders
Stage Manager: Jonathan Allsup
Assistant Stage Manager: Meagan Burnell
Event Coordinator: Ronni Gallup
Assistant to the Director: Jessica Swanson
Technical Director: Mike Haas
Lighting: Alexis Bond
Sound: Meagan Holdeman

Band
Keyboards and Musical Direction: Donna Debreceni
Drums: Larry Ziehl

Special Thanks
Leslie Rutherford, Denise Kato and Cheryl McNab, Town Hall Arts Center

MISCAST 2016:
7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 26
Littleton Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St.
A benefit for the Denver Actors Fund
Tickets are $20 (plus fees if ordered online) and are available at 303-794-2781 or BUY ONLINE

To read more about last year’s Miscast, and see photos and video, click here.
Watch the video highlights below.