Casting in popular culture—movies, TV shows, plays—more than anything controls who can become a kid’s hero, role model, inspiration. Casting allows a child to see themselves as the character they most admire, rather than always as the villain, the ne’er-do-well or the delinquent. Casting dictates representation, and representation matters. It’s why “Hamilton” received so much commendation for casting minority actors as white figures in American history; it’s why every year Broadway puts on “Miscast,” a show which sees award-winning performers in roles they would never be cast in usually with all the proceeds going an organization fighting against AIDS worldwide.

This year, a more universal casting is coming to Wash. U. as well, in the form of Mama’s Pot Roast’s “Miscast,” based off of the Broadway version, but donating all the proceeds to a St. Louis-based HIV/AIDS-focused organization.

“We had this interest in our group to do a concert like [“Miscast”] and to tie it in the same of being a charity event instead of a normal show,” senior and rehearsal captain Gabe Hoffman said. “We found a St. Louis charity to donate to called Doorways Housing that provides housing to people in the St. Louis community who have HIV AIDS.”

Normally an improv group, Pot Roast decided to challenge their traditional skillset and branch into musical theatre after realizing that the group had become fairly theatre-heavy anyway. With such a diverse range of talents already, the group decided it needed to venture out into newer territories, while still hopefully maintaining tradition.

“Pot Roast has a huge focus on trying to strike a balance between the traditions of the group as well as foraying in to new areas,” sophomore and group member Brandon Krisko said. “I think in terms of where the group is headed, we’ll definitely still want to keep doing the things that we’ve always been doing, but the theme of engaging with the St. Louis community at large is something we’re going to want to keep pushing into.”

One of the more obvious traditions being broken with Pot Roast’s staging of “Miscast” is the cost of admission to the show. While improv is usually absolutely free on Wash. U.’s campus, Pot Roast decided to charge $5 for the “Miscast” show with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Doorways Housing.

If the cost of a ticket is a barrier to attending, however, the members of Pot Roast want it to be known that not only is all the money going to Doorways Housing, but that there will also be free Salt + Smoke at the event in addition to some standout musical performances.

And standout they will. From an all-male performance of Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango,” to numbers from “Cabaret” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” the group has prepared an incredible slate of hit Broadway songs.

But if traditional Broadway musical hits don’t tickle your fancy, Pot Roast is also sticking to their improv roots.

“Only half the show is scripted, the other half is still improv, which is really fun,” Hoffman said. “It just happens to be only musical improv and we’ve worked with this amazing pianist, Andrew Savino, who’s a sophomore, who’s just incredible.”

Overall, the group is excited not only for this “Miscast” performance, but also for what setting this precedent will mean for the next 25 years of Pot Roast.

“It’s a door-opening for us to do more things in the future. I also leave this more to Brandon [Krisko] to answer because I’m three weeks from graduating; so this is like my last hurrah, whereas he’s only a sophomore,” Hoffman said.

“Since we’re bringing on that change, we really wanted to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience so that people are drawn to this cause and want to support it,” Krisko added.

“Miscast” will be held in McConnell 162 tonight from 8-10 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the door with all proceeds going to Doorways Housing.

Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to reflect that Mama’s Pot Roast’s event is from 8-10 p.m., not 6-8 p.m.