Color Purple's Felicia Fields and The Wedding Singer Join MCC's MISCAST March 13

MCC THEATER announced today that FELICIA FIELDS (The Color Purple), along with a special performance by members of Broadway's THE WEDDING SINGER will join the celebrity cast of "MISCAST," a star-studded musical revue featuring some of Broadway's biggest names singing show tunes in roles they would never, ever perform. Held on Monday, March 13, the MCC 20th Anniversary "MISCAST" benefit evening will honor theater producer Carole Shorenstein Hays (Doubt; Julius Caesar starring Denzel Washington; Gem of the Ocean; Caroline, or Change; Take Me Out; Topdog/Underdog), for her significant contribution to the NY theatrical community. The evening, supported in part by Kenneth Cole New York will also feature previously announced performers Mario Cantone (Laugh Whore), Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd), Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray, "American Idol"), Eden Espinosa (Wicked), Ana Gasteyer (Threepenny Opera), Deborah Gibson (Cabaret), Brian d'Arcy James (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) and Matthew Morrison (The Light in the Piazza). Musical direction is by Phil Reno (The Drowsy Chaperone). MCC's "MISCAST" will be held at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street, NYC). "MISCAST" begins at 6:30pm with cocktails; 7:30pm welcome, dinner and award presentation; followed by dessert and 9:00pm performances.

PLEASE NOTE: A LIMITED NUMBER OF SPECIALLY PRICED SHOW-ONLY MEZZANINE LEVEL TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $50.00 (the 9pm show-only mezzanine ticket includes a complimentary glass of red or white wine at the mezzanine level bar; no latecomers will be admitted).To order the $50.00 show-only tickets, call MCC at 212-727-7722, ext 227.

Individual tickets range from $350-$2,500. Tables of 10 are $7,500 (silver), $12,000 (gold) and $20,000 (platinum). For all other "MISCAST" reservations, please call (212) 727-7722 x233.

Portions of the proceeds from MCC Theater's 2006 Spring Gala will help fund its Playwright's Coalition for new and emerging writers; and its Education & Community Outreach program, which brings theater to nearly 1,000 NYC high school students each year.

Carole Shorenstein Hays – honoree

Carole's passion is nurturing American playwrights and bringing their distinctive voice to our national stages. Of the many playwrights whose work Carole has cultivated, four of them have won their first Pulitzer Prize for plays she produced. For three of those playwrights, it was their first time on Broadway. In addition, Carole has garnered five Tony Awards for Best Play.

Carole Shorenstein Hays is a commercial producer with a not-for-profit theater point of view; the development of the play is always her main focus. This is her approach, whether producing on Broadway or across the country. As the only woman in America to own three major legit theatres--the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres in San Francisco--she actively presents Broadway shows in all three theatres.

Simultaneously, she develops Broadway projects, many of which have also brought first time Tony Award recognition to contemporary well known directors ― Doug Hughes, Joe Mantello, and Dan Sullivan. Currently on Broadway, Carole is the lead producer of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, which won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Play and The Pulitzer Prize. She also recently co-produced the Broadway production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar starring Denzel Washington. Carole has produced four additional Tony Award-winning plays on Broadway: Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out, Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia, and Pulitzer Prize winners Proof by David Auburn and Fences by August Wilson. Other Broadway productions include Tony Kushner's Caroline, or Change, Suzan-Lori Parks' 2002 Pulitzer Prize winning Topdog/Underdog, Charles Busch's The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Patrick Marber's Closer, David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood.

MCC PRODUCTION INFORMATION

MCC began its 20th anniversary 3-play mainstage season at the Lucille Lortel Theatre with Laura Wade's Colder Than Here starring Judith Light, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson and Brian Murray, followed by Glen Berger's The Wooden Breeks, directed by Trip Cullman (through March 11). Later this season, MCC will reunite Fat Pig playwright Neil LaBute and director Jo Bonney on the US Premiere of Some Girl(s), May 17-June 24, opening June 8. This staging will mark the fourth LaBute work produced by MCC following The Mercy Seat, The Distance From Here and Fat Pig. MCC also produced a one-night benefit evening of LaBute one-act plays, Autobahn.

ABOUT MCC THEATER

Under the artistic direction of Bernard Telsey, Robert LuPone and William Cantler, MCC Theater, now in its 20th year, is one of New York City's leading off-Broadway theater companies, committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season. When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was simple: to bring new theatrical voices to theater-going audiences. MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through presentation of its mainstage works; its Literary Program, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers; and its Education and Outreach Program, allowing more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices in the arts.

Notable MCC highlights include: the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen as well as Ms. Lavery's Last Easter; Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, The Distance from Here, and The Mercy Seat; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson's Pulitzer prize-winning Wit; and Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone. Over the years, the dedication to the work of new and emerging artists has earned MCC Theater a variety of awards. For more information and a complete MCC production history, visit online at www.MCCTheater.org.

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