MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

#1

MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/9/09 at 11:39pm

Just got back from the MCC Benefit, "Miscast," and it was AMAZING, and also Crap. It began with Alice Ripley and Kelly O'Hara singing "It's a Hard Knock Life," which was a misfire. On the AMAZING side, Alice Ripley. She did a version of "Epipany" that was TO DIE FOR. On the crap side, Kelli O'Hara did "This Nearly Was Mine," which sucked. On the plus side, Raul Esparza and Aaron Tviet did "Part of That" from "The Last 5 Years," which rocked. On the crap side, Raul and Norbert did "What is This Feeling" from "Wicked," which was a misfire.

As a whole, it was a fun evening. But honestly?

Alice Ripley and Raul Esparza rocked.

Kelli O'Hara? Norbert? Not so much.

I'm just saying what it was.

Updated On: 3/9/09 at 11:39 PM

#2

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/9/09 at 11:47pm

Raul and Norbert did "The Next Ten Minutes"

Aaron and Norbert did "What Is This Feeling"

---

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

#3

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:08am

woah, lets not forget daniel breaker's kickass job as elle woods

---

<-- Gwen Stewart, SOLoist at the last show of RENT
Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words. (Tick, Tick... BOOM!)

#4

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:09am

How do you confuse Aaron Tveit and Norbert Leo Butz? Unless Aaron and suddenly begun to bloat and lose his hair. OH GOD HE HASN'T SUDDENLY BEGUN TO BLOAT AND LOSE HIS HAIR HAS HE??????

#5

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:52am

Oh, I thought Norbert was excellent throughout and that Kelli O'Hara's "This Nearly Was Mine" was incredible. My favorite was probably Steven Pasquale's "Maybe" from Annie.

#6

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:54am

How was Beth's song? I would have KILLED to hear that!

#7

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 1:59am

Excellent! She closed the show with "I am What I am" and REALLY belted it out! She has such a strong voice.

#8

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 2:25am

ok, just heard her song... o.. m.. g... and to think I liked Linda singing this... but Beth?! seriously, it was OUT OF THIS WORLD AMAZING! I have a feeling this will get played a bunch over the next few days :)

#9

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 3:54am

Wow some of these sound like they would have been great to hear. I can't even imagine what Ripley's Epiphany was like.

#10

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 7:48am

mormonophobic ~ check your pms. :)

mealz1042 ~ He was amazing. AND he managed to hit "the note". LOL.

---

Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!

#11

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 8:10am

I'd kill a hobo to have been able to see Alice sing Epiphany and Aaron since Back to Before.

#12

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 8:29am

I loved Robin as Vanessa in In the Heights
The Last 10 Minutes was my favorite number....
In the audience by the way were Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tommy Kail....
I sat next to Aaron Tveit's parents (I loved his first number from Ragtime....and his second from Wicked with Norbert was hilarious)
Another funny moment was Daniel Breaker in Legally Blonde :)

#13

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 10:49am

I can't even express my love for The Next 10 Minutes. That was a DREAM.

I think my favorite, in the humor department, was the white pants-off, though.

---

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#14

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 12:18pm

I am sorry I missed this! I bet "What is This Feeling?" was hilarious.

#15

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 3:40pm

The Miscast Benefit is always JUST out of my price range...

#16

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/10/09 at 8:59pm

$65? ($50 for four or more tickets)

#17

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/11/09 at 1:34am

You're crazy. Kelli O'Hara's "This Nearly Was Mine" was nearly perfect.

---

#18

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/11/09 at 1:37am

"This Nearly Was Mine" was flawless. You have no idea what you're talking about.

#19

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/11/09 at 2:39am

All of these work (except perhaps A Hard Knock Life, which while cute is so over-done that it kind of buried both performers) on some strange level. They all sounded quite wonderful and were some truly interesting takes on these classic songs. And what's even more interesting is that these are songs that you wouldn't ever hear the performers sing otherwise. It's those rare magical moments that are never repeated or relived. I thought Alice rocked the crap out of "Epiphany", but still can't get over how magnificent Kelli O'Hara is on "This Nearly Was Mine". The last thirty seconds or so of the song are simply indescribable. All in all, an event I wish to regularly attend in the future and some truly splendid choices made by some talented people.

#20

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/11/09 at 10:27am

This Nearly Was Mine may have been a little bit too obvious a choice, but regardless, Kelli sounded gorgeous.

And oh my God, I still can't get over the Esparza/Butz duet. I am still rendered nearly speechless.

---

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#21

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/11/09 at 11:14am

I only wish I could have heard the Butz/Esparza duet. I am in love with Last Five Years and am still mad I didn't get to see them on stage together for Speed the Plow.

These events are such a great treat and I only wish I could attend more of them!

#22

re: MCC Benefit... Alice, Raul, etc.

Posted: 3/11/09 at 11:15am

The only problem I had with Kelli was she was so amplified that I couldn't appreciate the actual sound of her voice. I loved the fact that while singing "One dream in my heart" she actually put her hand on her abdomen - the classic unconscious motherhood gesture. So sweet!