For the second year in a row, members of Trinity’s theater department are putting on the show “Miscast.”

“Miscast” is a different type of theater production “” one that isn’t placed into a single category and has a variety of talents and interesting messages to convey.

“It’s really untraditional. It’s not a play with a storyline or a plot or even really characters. It’s really just a celebration of musical theater and everything that it is,” said Aubrey Kehn, sophomore psychology major and actor in the show.

“Miscast” takes on an unconventional approach compared to other plays, and allows for students to play roles they normally wouldn’t be able to.

“A lot of us have roles in [other] shows that we love but we would never be able to play because of our gender or of our race or of our age, and “Miscast” is our opportunity to play those roles and get into those mindsets, which is really something we strive to do as actors,” Kehn said.

“Miscast” also gives students a wider range of roles to play, which expands their growth and development as actors.

“When we’re putting on a play it’s for an audience and we have to fit into the roles that we play, as opposed to in “Miscast” when we can really be anything and specifically try to be the opposite of what we are,” Kehn said.  

Though there will be music in the show itself, “Miscast” is more of a production that demonstrates the diversity of musical theater.

“It’s not so much a musical as it is a showcase of different songs from musicals, so we do some classic musicals, some contemporary musicals, some Disney, all kinds of stuff,” Kehn said.

With a variety of songs and musicals in the show, the cast will be miscast, or will play unconventional roles, frequently.

“I’m playing boys mostly, at the risk of spoiling some of our song choices,” the psych major said.

I asked Nico Champion, sophomore co-director and soloist in “Miscast,” about his role both co-directing and acting in the unusual production.

“Being able to see the entire process through was pretty rewarding, and to see it work out and come to fruition was pretty nice. I feel excited and ready for the show to happen, because I’m ready for a lot of people to see the work that the actors put in. So I’m excited to showcase all their stuff.”

Because of the diverse opportunities Trinity Theater provides for students, it’s easy for them to create their own opportunities and showcase different ideas, cultures and issues. Not only is “Miscast” an example of that, it is also a student-led production.

“It’s produced by TUP, the Trinity University Players, which is the student-led theater production on campus,” Kehn said.

Though this is only the second year “Miscast” is being produced, it combines music, theater and comedy and is bound to be memorable.

First-year Alexandra Parris is performing in the show and shared her thoughts about what “Miscast” changes about casting.

“I’ve always enjoyed singing a range of parts. There have always been a bunch of male songs that I’ve loved to sing and I just haven’t gotten a chance to, so things like “˜I’ll Make a Man Out of You,’ that’s just like a lot of fun to sing that.”

She adds that Miscast isn’t just fun and games, but makes a real difference in allowing actors to play off-limit roles.

“I think [the play] really does challenge gender roles,” Parris said.

“Miscast”’s first and only show will be held on Saturday, Mar. 25 in the Attic Theater inside the Ruth Taylor building at 8:30 p.m.

Some last thoughts from Champion: “Come out and see it. Certified fresh.”