Broadway veteran Candy Brown performs from ‘Sunset Boulevard’ at ‘Miscast 2018’ on September 17 at the Mizel Arts and Cultural Center. Click here to go to our complete photo gallery. All photos are downloadable and may be freely used on social media. Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

Irreverent fundraiser raises more than $6,000 for nonprofit that provides medical relief to Colorado theatre artists

Miscast, a popular annual community-wide performance held September 17 at the Mizel Arts and Cultural Center, raised $6,106 for the Denver Actors Fund, which provides financial and practical relief when members of the Colorado theatre community find themselves in situational medical need.

In just four years, this grassroots nonprofit has distributed more than $270,000 in direct aid to local artists — $160,000 in the past year alone.

‘Miscast’ co-hosts Steven J. Burge and Shannan Steele. Photo by John Moore.

Twenty local actors performed in roles they would never normally be cast to portray. This year’s co-hosts were popular local actors Shannan Steele and Steven J. Burge. Miscast is produced by Robert Michael Sanders, who has presented the show in its entirety for straight five years as his personal contribution to The Denver Actors Fund.

Since 2014, Sanders’ Miscast efforts have generated $26,117 for the grassroots nonprofit.

Miscast came just eight days after a new nonprofit called Project Careaoke hosted a karaoke-themed fundraiser for The Denver Actors Fund that raised more than $34,689 on September 9 at The Venue in northwest Denver.

Photo gallery: Miscast 2018

The evening included a variety of comic and poignant performances, including Denver actor and teacher Candy Brown, whose six Broadway credits include the original productions of Chicago and Pippin. Brown, who is African-American, chose to sing “With One Look” as Nora Desmond from Sunset Boulevard. In another highlight, gender-neutral performer K. Woodzick, founder of the Non-Binary Monologues Project, fulfilled a longtime dream by performing “I Want to Be a Producer” as Leo Bloom from The Producers.

The hosts also engaged audiences in participatory games including Match Game and Two Truths and a Lie. As guests entered the Mizel Center, they were asked if they wanted to be entered into a drawing to participate in the on-stage games. Those who did paid $5 for the chance to play.

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

In the crowd of nearly 200 were several recent beneficiaries of Denver Actors Fund grants, including Performance Now actor Sue Thompson, whose baby passed away when she was 8 months pregnant; Arvada Center actor Abner Genece, who was nearly killed with his son when their stopped car was hit from behind by a moving semi on a Wyoming highway; and Faith Ford, who will be undergoing surgery next month after a recent diagnosis of thyroid cancer. She is currently featured in Town Hall Arts Center’s production of American Idiot.

Many individuals and area theatre companies contributed more than $2,000 in prizes for the event. Participating companies included Denver Center Broadway, Arvada Center, Aurora Fox,  Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, Cherry Creek Theatre, Creede Repertory Theatre, Miners Alley Playhouse, Midtown Arts Center, Town Hall Arts Center and Vintage Theatre.

The Denver Center donated four tickets to the upcoming national touring production of The Phantom of the Opera sequel Love Never Dies. DAF supporters Brian and Becky Trampler donated their own two orchestra tickets to the upcoming touring production of Dear Evan Hansen. Local playwright playwright Jeff Neuman donated four tickets to The Denver Post Pen & Podium series he hosts. Headshot photographers Jeremy Rill and Rachel D. Graham donated portrait sessions.

Earlier in the day, the Denver Actors Fund voted to add Northern Colorado performer and presenter Kenny Moten to its Board of Directors. Moten is the owner of Narrative Creative Consulting in Fort Collins.

The Denver Actors Fund primarily works to reimburse Colorado theatre artists for medical expenses not covered by insurance. In addition, a team of volunteers provides practical services to those recovering from medical procedures ranging from meals to transportation to cleaning, pet care and more. Any theatre artist living in Colorado who participates in the making of a live theatre production on or off any legitimate stage in the state is eligible for DAF relief for the ensuing five years. For more information on the Denver Actors Fund and its services, or to donate, go to DenverActorsFund.Org.

The cast and crew of ‘Miscast 2018.’ Photo by John Moore.

Miscast 2018:

Hosts:
Steven J. Burge
Shannan Steele

Performances:

• Christopher K.Boeckx, ‘Never Enough’ from the film The Greatest Showman
• Candy Brown, ‘With One Look’ from Sunset Boulevard
• Anna Maria High, updated medley from Always, Patsy Cline, with Avery Anderson
• K. Woodzick, ‘I Wanna Be a Producer’ from The Producers
• Cast of Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s upcoming production of  The Wolves performing a scene from Glengarry Glen Ross: Hannah Haller, Lois Shih, Tara Kelso, Erika Mori and Maire Higgins. Directed by Adrian Egolf and adapted by Luke Sorge.
• LuAnn Buckstein, Suzanne Nepi, Arlene Rapal and Lisa Young, ‘Not Dead Yet’ from Spamalot
• David Nehls, ‘Bill Bailey’ from Showboat
• Jale Mendes, ‘Push da Button’ from The Color Purple
• Mark Pergola, ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ from The Little Mermaid’

Upcoming opportunities to support Denver Actors Fund:

Editor’s note: The Denver Actors Fund was founded by DCPA Senior Arts Journalist John Moore