Nomadic Theatre’s “Miscast,” directed by Peter Sukstorf (SFS ’26), reflects the brilliantly fun and imaginative spirit of Broadway’s famous “Miscast” charity concert with our local Georgetown University talent. The performance successfully weaves together an entertaining and eccentric selection of tunes, keeping the audience’s attention throughout both acts.
“Miscast” sees its actors perform roles they wouldn’t normally be cast in, such as Julien Catalon (CAS ’28) singing “I Know It’s Today” from “Shrek the Musical” as Teen Fiona. Nomadic Theatre strives to always deliver an exciting and joyful performance that makes everyone feel welcome and included. Sukstorf said he chose songs that would “allow our actors to powerfully demonstrate their voices and acting talent, that lent themselves to the particular humor of gender-bending present in ‘Miscast,’ and for which we had the right combination of performers to put on!”
With three shows between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, “Miscast” pushed the Village C Theater (VCT) to its full potential, as actors engaged with the audience to create a personable experience. This year, Nomadic donated all the ticket sales proceeds to Habitat for Humanity, a charity that focuses on building homes around the world, leading to both an amazing watch and support for a good cause.
The musical numbers were brilliantly staged with clear, careful attention to detail. While performing “Hello!” from “The Book of Mormon,” every elder carries a copy of “The Crucible” except for one: Elder Cunningham, played by Marlee Ryan (CAS ’28), who carried a different book. This small detail helped highlight how different Cunningham is from the other characters, even within a singular number taken out of context from the whole musical, proving that Sukstorf can do a lot with a little. The costumes are subtle yet smart, as the audience is automatically keyed into who is who, even in brief scenes. When performing “Watch What Happens (Reprise)” from “Newsies,” we can automatically tell Kate Nonnenkamp (CAS ’27) is playing the lead role of Jack Kelly based on her costume. Furthermore, with so little room on the stage, there are clear limitations in staging the scene, but the show succeeds, with boxes and tables serving different purposes throughout the numbers.
Some of the show’s individual highlights include Amelia Shotwell (CAS ’25) and Daisy Thomas (CAS ’27) performing “Confrontation” from “Les Misérables,” which served to prove that a gender-bent “Les Mis” could certainly thrive on Broadway. Another clear highlight was the first act’s closer, “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie,” featuring Caroline Samoluk (CAS ’25) in the titular role of Ken, clad in a white fur coat. Samoluk’s stage presence was strong, along with her voice, as she commanded the room, telling us to feel the “Kenergy.” Finally, there was the showstopping “Gaston” featuring Sophie Maretz (CAS ’26) and Alex Roberts (CAS ’26) as Lefou and Gaston, respectively. The character chemistry between them worked so well for the number, with Maretz — Georgetown’s reigning Funniest Human — cruising through the number with Roberts, who was the perfect Gaston, fully committed to the bit.
Campus band No One and The Elses provided the pre-show entertainment, while the miscast band itself played throughout the premiere. provided the musical accompaniment for every number. The band even played during intermission and pre-show, featuring Griffin Elliott (CAS ’26) on vocals. It was a little bit loud for VCT, especially since the group was placed in the audience, and none of the cast members had microphones. This sometimes made it difficult to hear the voices of the performers but it still managed to work in such a small theater.
One particularly special thing about “Miscast” under Sukstorf’s direction was the dedication to serving their community. Multiple cast members from the show went to a Habitat for Humanity site in Washington, D.C., and helped build a house for underprivileged communities. After the final show, they had raised over $5,000 for the charity.
The dedication and talent of these cast members, the directing staff and all involved really shone through on the stage. In the end, all seniors in the Class of 2025 got together to sing “For Good” from the musical “Wicked.” It was noticeable how much all of them enjoyed being a part of the Georgetown theater community as they prepared to bid goodbye at graduation. It was an emotional and poignant moment, as the song discusses carrying memories wherever you go. In a room filled with that much love, the show was easy to enjoy.
