Broadway's Robert Fairchild Dances "Music And The Mirror" For MISCAST! Gala

Robert Fairchild at the 2018 "Miscast" Gala

MCC Theater's annual MisCast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in New York City. Broadway’s brightest stars perform songs from roles in which they would never be cast.

At this year's event, Robert Fairchild, nominated for a Tony Award in his Broadway debut as "Jerry Mulligan" in the musical An American In Paris, took on the challenge of performing "The Music and the Mirror" originally danced by Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie in the groundbreaking A Chorus Line.

I actually have a story to tell in relation to this.

In 1989, I was cast in a national tour of A Chorus Line starring the original Tony Award winner for "Cassie," Donna McKechnie.

Donna was a hero to me. I didn't hesitate to say "yes." No negotiating - just sign me up. I had to share the stage with the incomparable McKechnie.

Not only was Donna still brilliant, if not better than ever, in the role, but she was as wonderful in life as she was illuminating onstage. We became fast friends.

Along the tour, due to my constant curiosity, I asked Donna questions about "Music and the Mirror" (aka "Cassie dance"). Donna was very generous in passing along information about the backstory of the dance, the meaning behind the movement, the storytelling, where steps came from...

Eventually she gave me a "Cassie dance" class and personally taught me the dance. It seemed back then that all then male dancers wanted to know the dance as it was not only dramatic but thrillingly athletic to dance.

Now, when we would arrive at a new city on tour, there would be a sound check at the theater and among other things Donna would sing "Music and the Mirror" so the sound man could get a handle on the new acoustics. The orchestra would play the full dance as it also helped the sound department EQ the band.

Donna didn't dance the dance in sound check as, well, she didn't need to. The understudy would take the opportunity to go over the number onstage as me and another dancer in the show would work the dance in a corner of the stage. I mean, the music WAS playing and we stayed out of the way.

At our last stop on the tour, I was uncharacteristically in my dressing room in the basement of the theatre as Donna sound checked the song. As the music kept playing, I heard the cast in the audience start chanting, "Ran-dy! Ran-dy! Ran-dy!"

It took me a second to understand what was going on, but I went flying upstairs.

I hit the empty stage just in time for the first dance break into the mirrors. The cast burst into cheers as I went into full-on "Cassie dance." Donna had suggested I finally get my "chance to dance."

For that one time, I had the full stage to take on the whole dance with a full Broadway-size orchestra. The stage manager even had the crew fly in the mirrors in the middle of the dance. Can you imagine?

It was a thrill to be in the moment, in the music and have my friends (and Donna) encourage me. Truly a memory to keep :)

The cast used to muse that I could be an understudy as "Casey" in a "non-traditional casting" choice.

I've since directed and choreographed A Chorus Line several times always passing on what Donna taught me about the dance.

Robert Fairchild does a terrific job here. He has a small space but makes the dance work beautifully.

The guy dancers still love to dance this dance. And I'm proud to say I know why :)

Watch below.