Here we go again
Casey Weeks, front right, performs with a group of cast members for in the first "Dream Roles & Miscasts" production in fall 2020. Courtesy photo.
The Kroc Center Theater will ring out with music and dancing once again as Aspire Community Theatre presents “Dream Roles & Miscasts 2,” a compilation of musical numbers from Broadway favorites, performing today through Sunday.
“I'm really excited to be performing again, as I speak for the cast and the artistic team, when we're so thrilled to be performing, rehearsing and doing what we love,” said Casey Weeks, a cast member from Post Falls and college senior studying musical theater in New York City. “We're all extremely grateful and feel very blessed to be able to do that again.”
The show features hand-picked performers acting in full character with costumes, sharing songs and dances from their favorite Broadway roles and shows, including “Newsies,” “Hadestown” and “Guys & Dolls.”
The idea for the first show was created last fall during the COVID-19 theater closure to give local artists a chance to still perform without the need to gather in large groups for rehearsals.
In Aspire’s revisit for round two, Weeks will be performing “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” as well as singing part of a duet for “Lily’s Eyes” from “The Secret Garden.”
"I love these types of performances because each actor gets to show the audience a piece of theater that they love and might not ever get a chance to do otherwise," said Erin Elizabeth, a cast member. "This show is quite the experience because you will witness pure passion."
Weeks said audience members can look forward to watching actors play miscast roles where a performer who wouldn’t normally be cast based on age, gender or otherwise, performs the character.
The show is directed and choreographed by Trigger Weddle, artistic director for Aspire. Weeks said one dance number he’s excited for is a miscast featuring guys dancing dressed as flight attendants.
“There's some really cool miscasts that you're not going to see any other time honestly,” Weeks said. “There's some really talented folks in this cast.”
For many cast members, including Weeks, this show will be a final performance together before they head back off to college.
“I'm also excited to perform with friends that I haven't performed with in many years,” Weeks said. “We're all kind of collaborating together to make this incredible show together.”
The performance is rated G with Friday and Saturday showtimes at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Theater. Tickets are $15 to $25 with discounted group rates also available. Tickets: aspirecda.com.