I would just like to mention that the following post is what happens when I a) don't get enough sleep, b) have way to much sugar, c) suddenly have a lot of free time, or d) all of the above. Just have fun with it.

Rico, the host of the Treks in Sci-Fi podcast, is having a Re-Casting Star Trek: TNG Contest. I thought it was a fantastic idea when I first heard about it and I'm so excited about the lists you can now vote for. Due to the craziness of school starting and keeping up with my work schedule, I didn't have a lot of time to even think about entering the contest. However, if there's one thing that I love more than anything in the world, it's casting projects that do not exist yet, so I thought I'd give it a go anyway. You know, just to play around with some ideas.

But I don't want it to be any ordinary cast list--I cast imaginary remakes all the time, as does any geek who chooses to daydream during class. So I thought of something that would immediately set my list apart--what if I casted "Star Trek: The Next Generation"--the musical! I know it's one of the worst ideas ever, but I sincerely think it's a fun idea that combines two of my greatest loves and I thought that I'd give it a go. Some of them might be names that you recognize, but I thought it would also be fun to write bios for all of the actors that includes some info about the very fake, awful musical I'm creating for the purpose of this blog post. I've also included some links to clips of each actor doing their thing, whether it be on stage or on screen.

To note again, this is just me having fun. TNG is not, will not, and should never be a musical. Ever. It would be terrible.
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Star Trek: The Next Generation MUSICAL SPECTACULAR!

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
as played by Michael Cerveris


Michael Cerveris is the 2004 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of John Wilkes Booth in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, and a three-time Tony nominee for his work in The Who's Tommy (1994), Sweeney Todd (2005 revival), and LoveMusik (2007). Other stage roles: Giorgio in Passion, Kent in King Lear, Mr. Andrews in Titanic: The Musical, and his acclaimed turn as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. His film and TV credits include The Mexican (Frank), "CSI" (Sid Booth Goggle), and Fox's "Fringe" (the Observer).

Cerveris will be singing songs "Welcome to the Enterprise," "Among the Borg," the showstopping ballad "Make it So."

Dr. Beverly Crusher
as played by Bernadette Peters

Bernadette Peters is a two-time Tony Award winner for her leading roles in Song and Dance and the 1998 revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Peters has had leading roles in other memorable Broadway productions such as Mack and Mabel, Sunday in the Park with George, The Goodbye Girl, Into the Woods, and Gypsy. She has several film and television credits that include The Jerk, Annie, Pennies from Heaven (Golden Globe nomination), Anastasia (voice of Sophie), It Runs in the Family, "Animaniacs" (voice of Rita the Cat), "Ally McBeal" (guest star; Emmy nomination), "Bobbie's Girl" (Daytime Emmy nomination), and ABC's adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" (Stepmother).

Peters will be performing a tap duet with the character Data as well as singing the song "Before the Stargazer."

Commander William T. Riker
as played by Raul Esparza





























Raul Esparza is a three-time Tony nominee (Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, Stephen Sondheim's Company, Boy George's Taboo) who is currently on Broadway performing in David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow. Other credits include the Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, Off-Broadway's tick... tick... BOOM!, The Normal Heart, the national tour of Evita, the film Find Me Guilty, and ABC's "Pushing Daisies."

The creative team have added two new solos for Riker, "The Conquests of Commander Riker" and "Take Command," along with a duet with Deanna Troi (see below bio for details).

Counselor Deanna Troi
as played by Idina Menzel


























Idina Menzel is renowned for her star turn as Elphaba in Wicked, which won her the 2004 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She is also known for her performance as Maureen Johnson in the original Broadway production of Rent (Tony nom.), which she recreated for the 2005 film adaptation. Off-Broadway's The Wild Party, See What I Wanna See, and the Disney film Enchanted.

The role of Deanna, a Betazoid with empathic abilities, currently has only two main songs in the show--"I Feel" and a love duet with Riker called "Imzadi (Beloved)." However, more songs may be added during the show's out of town tryout.

Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
as played by Elijah Kelley



























Elijah Kelley is known to most audiences for his film debut in 2007's Hairspray, in which he played Seaweed. His next film venture will be a biopic about the life of Sammy Davis, Jr.

Geordi currently has no songs of his own, but is featured promenantly in the number "Promotions," an ensemble (or as the creators have been joking, and "ensign-ble") where Geordi has a featured solo and dances with the Ensigns.

Lt. Commander Data
as played by Neil Patrick Harris


Neil Patrick Harris returns to the stage as Lt. Comm. Data, the android who goes on a personal journey to be more human. His previous Broadway credits include Cabaret, Proof, and the Tony-winning revival of Assassins. Other stage credits the Los Angeles production of Rent. Film and TV credits include "Doogie Howser M.D.," "How I Met Your Mother," and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.

The character has two solos--"Ode to Spot" (based on the popular poem from the series) and "Binary Code"--and will sing the reprise of Deanna Troi's solo "I Feel." As mentioned before, Harris will also be performing a tap duet with Bernadette Peters's Beverly Crusher.

Lt. Worf
as played by Jesse L. Martin


























Known for his television run in NBC's "Law and Order," Jesse L. Martin is known to musical fans as the original Collins in Broadway's Rent, a role which he recreated for the 2005 film adaptation. Other works include TV's "Ally McBeal," "X-Files" (guest star), and "A Christmas Carol."

Though not confirmed by the producers or creative team, word is that they are working on an as yet untitled song for Worf entirely sung in Klingon.

Ensign Wesley Crusher
as played by the three Billy Elliot boys (David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish, Trent Kowalik)
























All three boys made their Broadway debut in Elton John's Billy Elliot: The Musical. They will rotate in the role of Wesley Crusher, whose character has been redesigned to fit child actors and is also the featured dancer of the show and has several dance solos throughout, including the new musical number "The Enterprise-D Ballet," which is featured at the beginning of Act Two.

Guinan
as played by Audra McDonald
























Audra McDonald is four-time Tony Winner (Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun) and has been Tony-nominated for her performances in Marie Christine and 110 in the Shade. McDonald has also been nominated for two Primetime Emmys for her work as a supporting actress in television adaptations of "Wit" and "A Raisin in the Sun." She is currently a regular in ABC's "Private Practice."

The character of Guinan was written into the show after it's initial workshop, after urging from producers as well as fans of the television show. The creative team are fervently writing a new song for McDonald's character.

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See? Now wasn't that fun? Okay, maybe it was a little headache-y, in the words of Broadway blogger Seth Rudetsky. By the way, if you read Seth Rudetsky's blog or Playbill.com column Onstage and Backstage, I think my works are about as ADD as his. I think his stuff is much more interesting, but I'm a fan of his anyway.

Anyway, I assure you that the cast lists that the forum members are much better than this one, and more importantly they have names of actors that everyone will recognize off the bat. If you haven't voted yet, go to the Treks in Sci-Fi Forum and do so--I'm personally having a hard time picking out of all of them. And if you're someone who's been lurking around on that forum for a little bit, go register!

Thanks for reading my bit of randomness today.