Photos from ‘Miscast 2016,’ which raised more than $7,000 for the Denver Actors Fund.  To see more, hover your cursor over the image above and press the forward arrow. Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

Many of those appearing are giving back to the local nonprofit that was there for them in their time of need

Miscast 2017, the fourth annual fundraiser for The Denver Actors Fund, returns Sept. 25 to the Town Hall Arts Center with funnymen Eric Mather and Steven J. Burge as this year’s hosts, it was announced today.

Mather is the host of the Clocktower Cabaret’s weekly BLUSH: A Burlesque Fantasy, while Burge just played God in the DCPA’s extended hit comedy An Act of God and soon will return to the Galleria Theatre in the new relationship musical First Date.

Miscast is an opportunity for some of the local theatre community’s top performers to sing songs and act out scenes they would never … ever … get cast to perform on a legitimate stage. The program includes audience-participation games and general silliness.

Last year’s Miscast raised $7,067 for the Denver Actors Fund, which provides financial and practical relief for members of the Colorado theatre community facing situational medical need. In just four years, this grassroots nonprofit has distributed more than $120,000 in direct aid to help local artists, along with neighborly assistance from a group of 60 volunteers.

One of the more than 70 artists who have been helped by The Denver Actors Fund is Mather, who received financial and other volunteer support when his son was born last year at just 1 pound, 9 ounces.

“We are thankful to the Denver Actors Fund and the local theatre community for helping us in our time of financial need,” Mather said. “It really does take a village.”

Actors from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs submitted proposed songs along with their  “Miscast concepts” for judges to consider, and once again, Miscast Director Robert Michael Sanders said he received far more submissions than he had performance slots.

“This year’s turnout was completely overwhelming,” said Sanders. All applications were considered by a special selection committee based on variety and cleverness, among other factors. A premium, Sanders said, is placed on submissions that extend beyond simple race- or gender-swapping.

“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.”

Sanders has announced the following lineup of actors who will either perform or appear at this year’s Miscast. But he’s keeping their planned songs secret until their performances. The list includes Hope Grandon, PR and Events Manager for the DCPA Theatre Company (and former Chicago performer). Several of those listed have received prior assistance from The Denver Actors Fund, most recently Norrell Moore of the Arvada Center’s upcoming A Chorus Line. Moore was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 30 and has received $3,900 from The Denver Actors Fund to help her through it. The full list (in alphabetical order) is subject to change:

• Jona Alonzo
• Avery Anderson
• Randy Chalmers
• Reace Daniel
• Jackson Garske
• Abner Genece
• Hope Grandon
• Nick Johnson
• Margie Lamb
• Daniel Langhoff
• Norrell Moore
• Kenny Moten
• Jose David Reynoza
• Jeremy Rill
• Andrew Uhlenhopp
• Destiny Walsh
• Jalyn Courtenay Webb

And featuring the return of the Killer Kids of Miscast:

• Kaden Hinkle
• Hannah Katz
• Darrow Klein
• Evan Gibley
• Rylee Vogel
• Hannah Meg Weinraub

Creative team:

• Director: Robert Michael Sanders
• Musical Director: Donna Debreceni
• Stage Manager: Maegan Burnell
• Assistant to the Director: Jessica Swanson

(Pictured above right: Anna High, Suzanne Connors Nepi, Tim Howard and Barret Harper in ‘Miscast 2016.’)

This year’s event will include several special performance twists, such as a series of games a la Jimmy Fallon and other late night TV hosts. Many area merchants and theatre companies, including the Denver Center, are contributing more than $1,000 in prizes for the event.

Miscast 2017: Ticket information

• Monday, Sept. 25
• Doors open at 6 p.m.; show starts at 7 p.m.
• At the Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, CO, 80120
• $20 (plus fees if ordered online)
• Call 303-794-2787 or order online at townhallartscenter.org
• Cash bar available

Learn more about DAF at www.denveractorsfund.org. Follow DAF at Denver Actors Fund on Facebook or on Twitter at @DenverActorsFun.

Video: The Killer Kids of Miscast 2016

Watch the video that has been viewed nearly half a million times on social media since last September’s ‘Miscast 2016.’ The so-called ‘Killer Kids of Miscast’ will be back this year with a new number. The 2016 lineup was Sydney Fairbairn, Evan Gibley, Kaden Hinkle, Hanna Katz, Darrow Klein and Hannah Meg Weinraub.

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter