Lin-Manuel Miranda and Raul Esparza sing "A Boy Like That" from West Side Story

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Lin-Manuel Miranda and Raúl Esparza take on the roles of "Anita" and "Maria" in "West Side Story" at Miscast 2014.
MCC Theater's annual Miscast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town. Broadway's hottest stars perform songs from roles in which they would never be cast. Funds raised from Miscast help MCC Theater produce some of the most talked-about new work Off-Broadway and support our Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students, as well as our literary development work with emerging playwrights. Donate online at www.mcctheater.org.

[@FlowersForVax]

I love how serious they both took it the audience was laughing in the beginning but Lin and Raúl were IN IT and they pulled the audience in, too

[@drekfletch]

+littleboatfullofwater those are my favourite entries in Miscast. Where the actors are acting the roles they're singing, and not just being comedic.

[@WelcomeToTheScene1]

littleboatfullofwater If you don't take it seriously, it doesn't translate well.

[@johnvalentine9684]

The mark of a master preformance. It will make one suspended beliefe.

[@neomercury4279]

And the fact that Both of them captured the characters that they were playing as well as they did just speaks for how skilled of actors they are.

[@03krypton]

Hamilton and Barba practiced the law. They practically perfected it.

[@adoral.9227]

Benson and the SVU squad watches in amazement in the court room as Barba sings his ending statement.

[@jodishapiro6733]

Adora L. They are called closing arguments just saying but that would be brilliant. If only Mike Dodds had sung Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us from Hamilton as he was dying (Its not on the album)

[@maurafaith8795]

Jodi Shapiro laurens interlude, you mean, that's what it's called normally

[@kellyalves756]

(4:40 Miranda’s heartbroken face) 😂

[@cass8303]

Mary Ella Dorotan MY TWO FAV PEOPLE AND I LOVE HAMILTON AND L&O SVU😂

[@anakreyszig303]

Not miscast at all. It took the audience a moment, but halfway through, actors and audience are all in it completely. It's truly beautiful and heartfelt.

[@belle-ashton2167]

Actually, the song being sung by men is extremely accurate, as we all know that West Side Story is full of homosexual subtext and was written by gay men in the 50s, hence its powerful relevance today. Somewhere is also a very beautiful song about acceptance and love in all its forms in this dark world

[@sophiaelena639]

seems perfectly cast to me

[@ireniic.doesart]

Yup

[@savanaofray4426]

Yes

[@cuzwhynot253]

Totally

[@KiutzuDoitsu]

I love it how Raúl goes from comedy to "wow such talent" in like 0.5 seconds

[@thomasbradley4505]

If you’ve never heard his version of Being Alive from Company it is AMAZING.

[@mikaelagirardot7832]

Alexander Hamilton and Rafael Barba arguing is the best thing in the world.

[@omgitsjaclyn2190]

unstoppable force vs immovable object

[@adoral.9227]

I place my bets on Barba, he wasn't D.A for nothing :)

[@kennedydougherty3371]

Mikaela Girardot omg i love u

[@7coco3]

Audience laughing Raul: just wait and see, let me put all my emotions in this song Audience:........

[@k.robertrichardson6779]

Lin-Manuel: Uh-oh, my scene partner actually acted and I'm not able to rise to the same bar. Better put on a Sponge Bob Square Pants-worthy facial expression when we turn to the crowd at the end, and hope that sells it.

[@diana__s]

i take a break from SVU for ONE SECOND...

[@savanaofray4426]

Diana S. ,NO

[@laurenb8794]

Omg me too!!

[@carrotjuse]

I didn't know he could do that. What breath control!

[@bellerain381]

It finds you out! It always does.....

[@OverlordVal]

I feel like Raul has a hard time being campy with something like this, he starts out over-the-top and transitions into a really serious and heartfelt performance almost instantly. He and Lin-Manuel are an incredible duo, I can only hope and pray we'll see something with these two together in the future.

[@hannahchambers3331]

Isn't that how this song is meant to be...camp and over dramatic and then serious and heartfelt?

[@amayajones68]

I’d love to see the two of them together in something.

[@k.robertrichardson6779]

@@hannahchambers3331 ...In a word, no.

[@emmarsele]

OH MY GOD Lin-Manuel as Anita omgomg

[@andread9807]

Emma R. Sele it's perfect

[@yourfellowqueenie5717]

HE IS PERFECT I LOVE HIM❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@gracekeddy]

damn RIGHT that "life" note from raul deserved the mid-song applause!! unreal. and the harmony at the end is simply gorgeous

[@brians9508]

I really wish certain audience members could control themselves long enough to save the applause until the end. This performance isn't a jazz quartet in a bar, or a football game. All of the ridiculous laughing and the sudden outburst of applause stops me from being able to immerse myself in the purity and joy of the moment, makes it harder to hear the performers, and generally detracts from the performance. These audience members want to be part of the performance, instead of shutting their mouths and allowing everyone else to enjoy it.

[@lilymora5657]

Is anyone else a Hamilton/Law and Order:SVU/Broadway fan?

[@mikaelagirardot7832]

Alexander Hamilton vs Rafael Barba. BEST THING EVER!

[@ninjatvrtle6042]

Literally all of them

[@jdwcreates4002]

Mikaela Girardot HOLY FUCKING SHIT I COULD NOT HANDLE THAT

[@amayajones68]

+Lily Mora Very much so. In the 1st episode Daveed was featured on, in the scene where he first appears, I kid you not, I paused the video on my laptop, got up walked around my bed, and was basically just going: oh my gosh, oh my gosh. OK this is about to happen oh my gosh oh my gosh. Seeing him and Leslie on law & order was such a thrill. They're performances were great.

[@DarkJCB101]

Lily Mora I JUST FOUND THIS AND I LOVE BOTH FANDOMS AND AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@dfs67]

If there was a male Anita of course it would be Lin. He is incredible!

[@PolyBiBadger]

Diane Devendorf amen! He's perfect as Anita

[@emlylunar]

FUCK YEAH RAUL AND LIN ARE SO ICONIC I LOVE THEM

[@katiem5051]

I didn't even realize this was Lin I just clicked on it and almost screamed when he came on screen

[@vanish3002]

Katie M same

[@charmed122098]

This is the greatest duo ever on Miscast! Raúl's accent was so on point, it was hilarious

[@evanveitia]

Athena Sabaria It’s cause his parents are Spanish

[@uiscepreston]

@@evanveitia Cuban.

[@runefaustblack]

@@evanveitia Not really. His natural accent is American -- no surprise there, he grew up speaking English. The accent he has here is a feat of acting, and it's fucking impressive.

[@marspowr]

@@runefaustblack I think they're trying to say that his parents speak english with an accent (cuban, not spanish) so he's able to imitate it more easily than most.

[@lindsaylarsen9710]

His parents are Cuban so he's probably familiar with it!

[@CaptainQuirky]

Oh my god I take a 20-minute break from listening to Hamilton in order to look up other Broadway videos, and what do I stumble upon but this. It's as if the universe if telling me there is no escape from Lin-Manuel Miranda. XD Also on the serious vs. campy topic, I believe the actors were playing it straight, but as Miscast songs are generally humorous, the audience was finding the comedy in it.

[@alexnarvaez3644]

literally same omg

[@karenmitchell5953]

Me too. In my case Miscast Schuyler Sister brought me here (I had no choice but to watch). My other favorite performance of this song is by Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews at Carnegie Hall. Carol's look of horror when Julie sings "You should no better. You were in love; or so you said" is priceless.

[@CaptainQuirky]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for introducing me to that performance! Julie & Carol sang this song amazingly!

[@diana9379]

+Karen Mitchell the Mis cast of Schuyler sister brought me here too hahhah

[@coastercritic287]

OMG SAME! Savior Lin 😂 Its funny how this was before Hamilton anyway.

[@shekinahgonzalez3904]

I'm so late but Raul's smile when he sings "I love him, we are one, there's nothing to be done~" is like. The best.

[@shannongeier63]

Lin is a wonderful creator, performer, interpreter, actor but as far as vocal singing, Raul is the man and they both know it.

[@ellej.winsett3701]

i've grown so accustomed to seeing Raul as a tv actor that now his voice catches me off guard. ugh i got chills. :')

[@birdlawco]

RAÚL IS SO GREAT AS MARIA I'M CRYING

[@djkmusic60]

As far as singing, Esparza is just brilliant. When he hits the climax notes during the lyrics, "all.....of my life", and the fact that he holds the money note on the word, "life", for as long as he dies, is also just brilliant. It gives such depth and resonance to that entire phrase. Of course, the the vocal quality he attained when he sang the last note just knocked it out of the park.

[@Anjuli50]

I agree. These performances are actually quite amazingly good -- the audience is laughing because they're taking it as camp -- and the actors are taking it seriously!

[@jesserooney7191]

Raul Esparza is one multi-talented man.

[@margaretgarside5617]

And sooooo hot.

[@laurapurling4579]

It's 2014 and Lin's hair is getting longer. I think he may be growing it for something...

[@aly8950]

hmmm I wonder what it was for

[@TheAkinomek]

I guess we have to wait for it to find out

[@LaurenOrion]

+Lilith Blackfyre just we wait

[@yourmidnights13]

just we wait... I think it's has something to do with New York? They say you could be a new person there.

[@robcol125]

the greatest city in the world?

[@amayajones68]

If there is ever a miscast production of West Side, I would love to see these 2 reprise their roles of Anita and Maria.

[@firstnamelastname5331]

WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE HIM

[@sorrelshepherd4458]

BOTH!!!!!!!!

[@thefandomqueen88]

Savannah Mandella yes

[@lauran8968]

@Savannah Mandella Raúl!!

[@davidbonfiglio5163]

Raul Esparza can make you laugh while tears are running down your face. His voice can be a hug one minute, and a hammer the next, How does he do it.

[@bhusar1]

They both nailed it. Lin is so great, Raul killed it as well. I always thought of this as the most difficult song in West Side Story for the female singers, the guys, or one guy has Maria and that also can be difficult.

[@alexisbrown8545]

When Raul does that little weak in the knees thing at the end as Lin leads him offstage #imshook They were so into the scene that it pulled me in. Seriously this is my 2nd fave recording of this song behind the spanish recording with karen and josefina! This is a great example of how ur dedication to a scene as an actor determines how the audience responds and whether they feel the authenticity of a moment.

[@Besosatwa]

I never realized how talented ADA Barba is.

[@Goldievoi]

+Cali Nightingale I know. I found out last year that he was on the recording of Tick Tick Boom and had a Broadway career. I was so surprised.

[@Kasino80]

Check out company

[@bellerain381]

Company and Tick Tick Boom!

[@gcgtheatricals8655]

Oh for sure. The producer or director of Leap of Faith got him the gig on SVU when that show closed cause he’s just way too freaking talented to not be working constantly. And he was freaking robbed of the Tony Award for his Bobby in Company by David Hyde Pierce in Curtains cause stupid senile voters were like “oh… Niles Crane? I’m sure he deserves it”

[@gcgtheatricals8655]

I also got to see him, Elizabeth Moss AND Norbert Leo Butz in Speed the Plow… Butz filled in for Jeremy Piven after sushigate and it was definitely an upgrade

[@leonferguson6265]

It's the audience who are making it camp, not the performers. Raul has a quality which is ambiguous, and his singing is so emotional and uninhibited it sometimes seems feminine, but it's always thrilling. A great pairing, I just wish the audience could shut up. It's they who want it to be camp and sent up, and the two guys are determined to play it truthfully.

[@minkamagalah]

Oh Leon, I so agree. Thanks for saying so. I think the audience is embarrassed at how emotionally honest it is.

[@arthurboehm]

Not quite. The exaggerated Spanish accents as well as certain expressions cue parody to the audience. Still, thrilling. One does wish that they could have entered into it completely straight, though.

[@MayPhoenix]

Agreed. These two men are putting such passion into the performance, they are playing the roles and delivering with the power of an opera, layering the voices. Raul is blowing me away.

[@brians9508]

@@arthurboehm I not quite your not quite. I think they played it seriously from the beginning. And the OP is correct - the audience members that were laughing well into the number were either terribly young, terribly immature, and/or terribly drunk.

[@k.robertrichardson6779]

Miranda was probably coming as close as he is able to actually acting, but check out that facial expression at the end. He was as camp as it comes. Experience this video with as much confirmation bias as you need to, though.

[@cla338]

HOW DID I MISS THIS PIECE OF PERFECTION

[@sniz7792]

Okay, I became a huge fan of Law and Order SVU and Hamilton at the same time, and I especially love Lin and Raul, so imagine my surprise at finding this. It's official; this is the best thing ever.

[@roguishpaladin]

Go look up Raul Esparza's Broadway career. His Company performance should've won the Tony that year, but revivals are a tough sell for awards. And, he's played Riff-Raff from Rocky Horror on Broadway!

[@greekchick104]

Dude, SAME. The giddiness I feel about this is UNREAL. It has no business being as good as it is!!

[@brianeduardo1234]

Mr. Esparza accented English is perfect.. very good... great sincerity too

[@tomtomlinson4826]

The way he throws his whole body into the high notes and holds them forever...

[@roguishpaladin]

He's born of Cuban parents. And Miranda's Puerto Rican. They fit their 'side' of West Side Story pretty well.

[@clairewalker4441]

When you notice around 2:30-3:00 that Lin is about to cry

[@Yuiguitah]

+Claire Walker He's a great actor!!

[@paulinamacias2944]

Claire Walker Lin cries alot

[@marthaeve1]

One of THE most charming things about him.

[@joshneedle111]

Claire Walker Lin doesn't fuck around. When he does something HE GOES IN

[@marthaeve1]

right? I love that.

[@AngelaJeanBarr]

.... and then my heart exploded. OMG!

[@lostvocals8]

No matter how hard you try to camp it up, once it gets to Maria's solo no one can laugh.

[@duanecochran8526]

I only knew him from SVU I am now a total fan of Raúl Esparza!!!!

[@crazyovergreen]

When Bobby finally finds someone he's asked to forget the person. Haha. On another note, this performance made me laugh and cry. Brilliant!

[@waynespeers]

the laughing stopped. It happened. It worked. Love.

[@Joellambert]

The I Have A Love section of this is actually really beautiful and heartfelt. I found nothing strange about two men singing this and actually think it would have been even better if the humour was dropped from it completely.

[@ruggerdavey]

Total props to Raúl for not only singing amazingly but doing it in an accent. Lin was also amazing, of course.

[@brooklynbaby6885]

Raul’s voice is so heavenly ❤️❤️

[@Natalie-zi4di]

I want them to do this again without the audience laughing.

[@argi_a]

Forever in love with how Lin aggressively sings "very sMART, maria, vERY SM A R T"

[@MadDirectionerGirl]

*WHY DID I ONLY FIND THIS TODAY????!*

[@rakenrol047]

I didn't know Dr. Frederick Chilton and Alexander Hamilton sang a duet

[@PolyBiBadger]

SPNAPH me neither

[@thefandomqueen88]

Oh man Usnavi and Rafael Barba are killing it

[@YouWouldntStealABag]

Where is our Hannibal musical episode? Buffy and supernatural got one riverdale got like 5. Life ain’t fair 😂

[@Eveholics]

This is downright phenomenal! Lin and Raul are both superb! That moment at the end they're both crying! :(...And is it me, or was Raul possibly crying so hard he nearly fell :/ I wish they both did the roles like this in a longer movie :p I could watch them at it longer!

[@tracyroweauthor]

I think the nearly falling part was choreographed

[@tigeyavengerpotter8276]

They both did spectacular, I’m a huge fan of Lin, and Raul holding that note DAMN!!

[@BetteDavis19]

LIN AND BARBA HOLY MY LIFE IS COMPLETE

[@themaxster100]

I would pay for them to make a miscast album

[@pamelamays4186]

Lin-Manuel: Note to myself. Cast this guy in a future musical.

[@oonaghomalley9052]

I CAN'T BREATHE MY FAVES

[@christineclancy5801]

Yes! In the middle of my Hamilton marathon, I find this little treasure!!!

[@CarolanIvey]

Me, to the audience: STOP LAUGHING!!

[@audramcdonaldapologist3676]

They’re laughing because it’s a miscast performance it’s supposed to be funny

[@poethemusical8123]

Raul is so incredibly hot, brilliant, and talented. He was born to play the lead in my musical!

[@diesldiesl282]

My god Raul is legendary. I clicked on this after watching a series of shaky camcorder Tick Tick Boom vids from 2000, it's good to see he's still killing it.

[@jackl.gansner6102]

Raul really put his hart into this and I always appreciate that

[@loverboymadita7811]

I cried at that ending... I love the passion they put into it. ❤️

[@jaih8198]

Two of the most amazing men in theatre and on tv and in general singing together this is a dream come true

[@eddiecat]

It doesn't seem right to call this "Miscast" when they have done such a BEAUTIFUL job!

[@spacekid2077]

Get Raúl Back on Broadway 👏🏽👏🏽

[@tanianorth7724]

At 1:23 Raul tries to make Lin laughs and at 3:46 Raul’s lung power 😲🤗

[@oefangran]

Two of the MOST talented performers of the 21st Century right there...Love 'em so much!

[@gjohnmac]

That left me wanting more...more please...

[@kaylamcook696]

I didn't know I needed this in my life. God, I want to watch the whole musical gender-swapped now, with Lin as Anita.

[@Enr227]

Their integrity, so pure - gorgeous

[@elliekiwi8687]

I'm obsessed with Hamilton and SVU and this has now killed me and brought me back to life all at the same time

[@zazuzazz5419]

Emotion is Emotion is Emotion… This is very moving. A testament to the compassion coded in the music.

[@reginaalajar]

LIN OHMYGOD ITS LIN TAKE ME NOW LORD ITS LIN

[@thesirenB3]

If you put two of the most dramatic kings in a heated and emotional scene and song like this, they will pop off like the kings they are. And they did, putting their entire sassy asf selves into it.

[@izzyo.5218]

Raul’s voice has aged so well since tick tick boom!! He sounds a bit like he’s straining, but That Note was pretty good hot damn :0 and Lin looking like he’s about to cry really got me wow

[@KLK1618]

Raul is killing it!

[@PattiOBrien]

LOVE THIS. Best vocal performance of Lin's I've heard.

[@sightseeingwithstacy483]

This was the best thing I've seen all year! Come on now...Lin-Manuel and Raul together?! It's my two favorite worlds colliding 😍🤩

[@dahlia58]

The piano, and the piano playing is very complimentary to the singing

[@bayushalford7949]

I can't be the only one who notices how similar Barba and Hamilton are, right?! Also, Lynn - Manuel Miranda and Raúl Esparza singing together. Thank you, Lord!

[@MrCrowebobby]

That note at 3:43!!!

[@sherglovier3393]

When two amazing performers take it seriously it works so well it is just breathtaking. I gotta go clean my mascara off of my face.

[@yourfellowqueenie5717]

LIN IS PERFECT I LOVE HIM SO MUCH😍😍❤️❤️❤️🎶🎶🤤🤤🤤

[@TardisInTheSkye]

HOW AM I JUST FINDING THIS?? I LOVE THEM BOTH

[@computermash8542]

MY BOY RAUL IM SO ALIVE

[@ConanThreepwood]

Khaztiel Elric Being alive!

[@audramcdonaldapologist3676]

Estefanía Fariñas Beeeing Aliiiive

[@fyrntastic]

I’m crying The writer of Hamilton and In The Heights, the star of both, and BARBA

[@anna-mackk]

THIS IS COOL BECAUSE THEY BOTH DID TICK TICK BOOM

[@jeymf4467]

Came for the comedy, stayed for the heart-wrenching notes.

[@unnatural6edq]

I need to hear more bi men singing female roles....Raul *nails* this. Effortlessly.

[@victoriapilar4866]

I just love that there is not a single Broadway song that Lin Manuel Miranda hasn't sang

[@DAS1962]

Seriously? Respectively there is a reaon Raul is there, Lin can;t sing those notes - grow up.

[@victoriapilar4866]

@@DAS1962 I just said that Lin Manuel sang almost every Broadway song, because every time I search for a song there is a version of Lin Manuel Miranda. I have not said anything regarding his singing. I don't know why you decided to attack me. Maybe you should grow up.

[@marspowr]

@@DAS1962 so aggro and for what

[@whynot0224]

Omg, I didn't know Barba (SVU) can sing also!

[@4dultw1thj0b]

Ooooh, you have no idea! Check him out in Company, Tick Tick Boom, Rocky Horror, Cabaret, etc. He is absolutely fantastic!

[@corvus1374]

+AlwaysGonnaSing Pushing Daisies.

[@lynn8101]

Barba was awesome singing he will always be close to my heart I love the guy he was a good lawyer on law and order svu

[@inthemoondust2900]

Click for Lin, keep watching for Raul, obsess for both their singing. (Like Raul can sing? I did not know that.)

[@roguishpaladin]

Go look his performances from Company up.

[@cc-of3lw]

MY TWO FAVORITE PEOPLE O H MY GOD

[@duronimos]

One of my favorite songs and so well executed. Brilliant! Leonard would have loved that.

[@Mickeysings]

Wow. Funny, and then stunningly beautiful. Tears and thanks. Somehow, I think Leonard would be proud.

[@bronxboy47]

That little stumble as they're exiting at the end. Perfecto!

[@susangabrielle3760]

Totally, wonderfully perfect! (Love Esparza!)

[@justsammi9285]

this is perfection 😍

[@anitamolander7053]

They make me cry every time. One of the best performances I have ever seen in my 71 years

[@cambryn]

3:44-3:54 RAUL YOU KILL ME!!!

[@kennedydougherty3371]

I have been waiting to see these to together