I haven't been to MISCAST for about three years but when I did attend, it was like most gala performances - fun but short. Most performers get one song, the headliners may get two. The edges are a little rough since there must be only limited rehearsal opportunities. The idea is that singers get to do songs that they would never do - women singing male role songs and vice versa, or youngsters singing songs sung by older characters, etc. You get the idea. Sometimes it works, sometimes it's just "cute." The performance only tickets used to be $50-$100, so if the evening wasn't a total success, it didn't seem to matter. With the prices they are charging now, they better knock it out of the park! Plus there used to be complimentary wine available - now you apparently have to pay an extra $100 for the honor.