Broadway's hottest chorus boys are set to compete in drag as their respective leading ladies in the 1st MISS CAST PAGEANT. The event is set to take place on May 12th, 2008 at the popular New York nightclub Therapy at 11pm.
The premise is fairly simple: Broadway Chorus boys battle it out in a Miss America style pageant as the leading ladies of their respective shows. The 1st of what is aiming to be an annual event features
Legally Blonde's
Paul Canaan as Elle Woods (Laura Belle Bundy), Curtain's J.
Austin Eyer as Carmen Bernstein (
Debra Monk) and
Wicked's
Kenway Kua as Elphaba (
Stephanie J. Block). Celebrity Judges include
Marty Thomas (
Xanadu),
Tory Ross (Cry Baby) and the Village Voice's
Michael Musto. The event is hosted by nightlife icons Mimi Imfurst and Eve Starr.
The competition consists of three rounds: Performance as the leading lady, Question and Answer and Best 32 Bars sung live as inspired by the leading lady.
The contestants will be competing for a charity of their choice; proceeds from drink sales will go to the winner. Paul Loesel serves as musical director. An opening number has been conceived and choreographed by Chuck Ragsdale. Music provided by DJ Kevin Graves. Surprise celebrity guests are scheduled to appear. The event was conceived by co-hosts Mimi Imfurst and Eve Starr.
Therapy is located in Manhattan at 248 West 52nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. There is no cover charge for the event. All attendees must be 21 and older with identification.
Bios:
Paul Canaan (Contestant) Currently:
Legally Blonde. Broadway credits include Miss Saigon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage Aux Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. National tour work includes Annie Get Your Gun. NY: Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Regional work includes Camelot, Miss Saigon (Paper Mill Playhouse). Hot Mikado (Ford's Theater).
Robert Redford's Sundance.
J. Austin Ayer (Contestant) Currently:
Curtains. Broadway: The Secret Garden (Colin). National Tour: Evita, and the Boston company of White Christmas. Other Theatre: The Wild Party (Burrs), Carousel (Enoch Snow), Children of Eden (God) and Hamlet in Hamlet. Other: beginning his career at age 7, he has credits in television, film, dance, voice and print. As Performer and Choreographer: the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, '96 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies, NY MF, Disney World and Universal Studios. Education: BFA from NYU (CAP21) and is a member of the CAP21 Dance Faculty. A proud member of Actors' Equity.
Kenway Kua (Contestant) Currently:
Wicked. Broadway: The Frogs (Original Cast) Tour: Flower Drum Song (1st national) Regionals: Cinderella (NYC Opera), Pacific Overtures, Miss Siagon, Walt Disney World Kids of the Kingdom, industrials, commercials & Music Videos.
Marty Thomas (Judge) currently appears in
Xanadu on Broadway as the Specialty Skater. He has also appeared in
Wicked, The Secret Garden (Colin), Grammy nominated and Billboard Magazine charted recording artist, Ed McMahons Star Search Champion, has been featured on MTV, VH1, Oxygen Network, 20/20, Fox, Inside Edition, & The Tony Awards.
Tory Ross (Judge) appears in Cry Baby on Broadway. She played the Misfit Showgirl in the Film adaptation of The Producers. In New York she also appeared in the Jerry Springer the Opera at Carnegie Hall.
Michael Musto (Judge) writes the wildly popular column 'La Dolce Musto' in the Village Voice; last year he published a hilarious book by the same name, and he recently made a sensation posing as Lindsay Lohan with a dick on the cover of the Voice."
