March 23, 2016

Broadway Backwards Raises Record $480K for BC/EFA and The Center

EDGE READ TIME: 4 MIN.

The sold-out audience at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre was dazzled Monday, March 21, by this year's stirring edition of Broadway Backwards (#broadwaywaybackwards). The annual celebration, where men sing songs originally written for women and vice versa offering this audience the chance to see LGBT stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, set a new fundraising record. The evening raised an incredible $480,287 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City.
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Tony Award winner Julie White, a longtime friend of Broadway Cares, handled hosting duties with her characteristic wit and warmth. The evening featured 18 delightful numbers, including memorable performances by Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera, Danielle Brooks ("The Color Purple," "Orange is the New Black"), Jay Armstrong Johnson ("On the Town," TV's "Quantico"), Olivier Award winner Laura Michelle Kelly ("Finding Neverland"), Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck ("Finding Neverland") and more.
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Stage and screen star Kathleen Turner made a special appearance to thank the audience for its support of the two organizations and to remind them of the challenges still faced daily by the LGBT community.
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Produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS, this year's edition of Broadway Backwards featured an immensely talented 67-person cast and a live onstage orchestra, conducted by music director Tim Rosser.

Among this year's unforgettable numbers:

  • A razzle-dazzle performance by Rivera of Kander and Ebb's "All I Care About is Love" from "Chicago." Following prolonged cheers, whistles and applause when she appeared, Rivera delivered an unforgettable take on swarmy lawyer Billy Flynn, surrounded by a bevy of feathery beauties, many from the original 1996 "Chicago" revival cast.

  • Brooks brought the first act to a close with her heart-wrenching rendition of "Hold Me in Your Heart," from the Tony Award-winning smash hit "Kinky Boots," the longtime resident at the Hirschfeld.

  • Johnson let his inner Marilyn Monroe fly in a glittery production of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" featuring Jamison Stern. Effortlessly thrown in the air by a huddle of hunky men, Johnson shined as the audience roared with approval.

  • In the spirit of Turner's speech, Kelly brought the show to an emotional close with an inspiring version of "Everybody Says Don't" from "Anyone Can Whistle," singing "Maybe you're going to fall, but it is better than not starting at all."

  • Yazbeck ("Finding Neverland") showed off impressive tapping skills in a high-spirited "Forget About the Boy" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie," joined by Eddie Korbich ("A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder") and the show's brilliant ensemble dancers.

  • "Kinky Boots" star Wayne Brady, backed up by singers Philippe Arroyo and Lauren Wright, thrilled the house with a rhythmic�"Let's Hear It for the Boy" from "Footloose."

  • As always-accommodating hotel receptionists, Nick Adams ("Priscilla Queen of the Desert"), Nathan Lee Graham ("Zoolander," "Sweet Home Alabama") and Telly Leung ("Allegiance") opened the show with a sexy and playful "Welcome to Holiday Inn" from "Seesaw."

  • Channeling Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra, Kenita R. Miller ("Xanadu") took the audience and her sexy female attendants on a journey down the Nile with a delicious "Too Darn Hot," complete with cameo appearances by Adams as the Egyptian king and Dave August as his loyal, shirtless servant.

  • A casual trip to the supermarket turned much more interesting when limber grocery boy Ricky Ubeda ("On the Town," TV's "So You Think You Can Dance") garnered the attention of the store's shoppers: August, Ward Billeisen, Joshua Buscher-West, Peter Nelson and Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva. Under the skeptical eye of manager Jerry Gallagher, they quickly tossed aside their shopping carts in favor of a delectable "Can That Boy Foxtrot!" from "Side by Side" by Sondheim.

  • Emmy Award nominee Tituss Burgess ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "The Little Mermaid"), joined by Jonathan Hadley ("Jersey Boys"), provided a touching glance into the world of an expectant parent with a rich rendition of "The Story Goes On" from "Baby."

  • The perfectly mismatched duo of Tony nominee Beth Malone ("Fun Home") and Olivier winner Lesli Margherita ("Dames at Sea") completed each other in an adorable take on "Opposites" from "Skyscraper."

  • Broadway trio Apollo Link, featuring Jake Odmark, Roberts and Brandon Rubendall, transformed the classic "Gimme Gimme" from "Thoroughly Modern Millie" into a tightly harmonized contemporary crowd-pleaser.

    The evening also featured several powerful solos, including Broadway Backwards veteran and Tony winner Len Cariou ("Sweeney Todd," TV's "Blue Bloods") with a moving rendition of "The Party's Over" from "Bells Are Ringing," the incomparable Karen Mason ("Sunset Boulevard") with a heart-rending "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" from "My Fair Lady," two-time Tony nominee Brad Oscar ("Something Rotten!") with a playful rendition of Stephen Sondheim's "That Dirty Old Man" from "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Krysta Rodriguez ("Spring Awakening," TV's "Smash") with a moving rendition of "She Touched Me" from "Drat! The Cat," Tony nominee Tony Sheldon ("Priscilla Queen of the Desert") with a charmingly elegant "No Man is Worth It" from "Dance a Little Closer" and Treat Williams ("Follies") with an intimate and amusing exploration of "Frank Mills" from "Hair."�
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    Broadway Backwards Creator Robert Bartley wrote and directed this year's show, with choreography by Bartley, Al Blackstone, David Bushman, JoAnn M. Hunter and Roberts. Mary-Mitchell Campbell served as music supervisor. The creative team included lighting designer Paul Miller, costume designer Matthew J. Kilgore and sound designer Matt Kraus. Chris De Camillis served as production stage manager.
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    Broadway Backwards began as a small, grassroots concert performed at The Center in 2006, quickly grew into an highly anticipated event presented in Broadway's best theaters. In its 11 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $2.4 million for Broadway Cares and The Center.����������
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    Broadway Backwards is sponsored by The New York Times and United Airlines.
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    by EDGE

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