On April 6, the Performing and Visual Arts Department will present the annual Broadway Bash, but this year there’s a twist. This year’s theme is “MisCast.”
A miscast involves breaking the boundaries of gender roles by swapping genders in this collection of Broadway revue of the classic and modern genre of theatre and entertainment. Based on the New York Cabaret style, NSU performers have made this production their own.
As Elyse Rosen, performer and costume designer, explained, “It’s not the full show. It’s different numbers so you [get a chance] to play these different characters and have fun with it where you wouldn’t necessarily get to play that character.”
Even though this show is meant to be light-hearted and exhibit the comedy and fun the theatre can present with broadway material, some of these numbers have some serious, dramatic undertones and some even create an undertone by simply switching the gender.
Kelly Johnson, performer and assistant director, said, “The topic [of gender identity] is relevant now where gender roles are starting to make their way out [of our modern society]. So we are flipping the script on what you would usually see. In our world [of theatre] we can do that. We can do anything we want.”
With this newfound artistic freedom, Rosen feels that this year’s Bash will open up the doors for the audience to find something new in the theatre that they might enjoy. Johnson said she hopes the event will break barriers with both gender norms and typecasting.
“We don’t have to play what is typically our typecast. Certain people play the princesses and certain people are the goofy best friend. In this, we don’t follow that pattern at all,” said Johnson.
Audiences can expect to see an eclectic mix of musicals new and old like “Spring Awakening,” “Chicago” and “The Wedding Singer,” to name a few. Not only are they the originals people are familiar with but some obvious artistic liberties were taken.
“Elyse has a solo from the Full Monty, which is hilarious. Elyse is a sweet, little princess who is a man drinking beer, playing baseball. It’s so funny,” said Johnson.
Rosen and Johnson said they hope that students will enjoy this event and be able to generate new themes and ideas like this in future Broadway Bashes.
“Theatre people tend to be open-minded because we are all kind of out there and it’s regular for us to live [in this world] where we can be whatever we want to be,” said Johnson. “The rest of the world isn’t always like that. It’s nice to open our theatre door and let people see what it’s like.”
