Lopez, McArdle & More Join Bway Backwards Benefit, 6/5

The theatre community will kick off Pride month with a one-night-only, star-studded Broadway concert benefiting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City on Monday, June 5th at 7 PM.

"'Broadway Backwards: Songs of Survival and Love' will feature an evening of Broadway's showtunes...with a twist. Ever wondered what it be like to hear three sexy Broadway guys sing 'Ya Gotta Get a Gimmick' from Gypsy? Or one of Broadway's most appealing leading ladies sing 'I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face' from My Fair Lady? Or two handsome leading men singing 'We Kiss in a Shadow' from The King and I? Now is your chance to hear Broadway's finest tackle gender reversed songs of musical theatre," according to press notes.

At press time, those scheduled to appear include: Michelle Blakely (Grease, Annie Get Your Gun), Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up, Aida, film United 93), Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, And the World Goes Round), Michael McElroy (Tony-nominee Big River, The Wild Party, Rent), Harvey Evans (Follies, West Side Story, Sunset Boulevard, Anyone Can Whistle), Kurt Peterson (Captain Louie, Follies, The Baker's Wife), Andrea Burns (Parade, Songs for a New World, The Full Monty), Julie Wilson (Tony-nominee Legs Diamond, Kismet, Pajama Game), Charles Busch (Tony-nominee The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Psycho Beach Party), Steven Brinberg (Funny Girl concert, Mac & Bistro Awards, Recording artist Simply Barbra), Paul Castree (All Shook Up, Saturday Night Fever, Hair concert), Matt Cavenaugh (Grey Gardens, Urban Cowboy), Priscilla Lopez (Tony Award--A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, nominee for A Chorus Line & Class Mother '68), and Andrea McArdle (Tony nominee Annie, State Fair, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables).

Seth Rudetsky will host the event, which will be directed by Robert Bartley and feature musical direction by Michael Lavine. More stars will be announced.

Established in 1983, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 West 13th Street in New York City, is the largest LGBT community center organization on the East Coast. More than 6,000 people visit the Center weekly.

Tickets are $35, and sponsor tickets (reserved seating in the first five rows) are $75. Visit www.gaycenter.org or call 212-620-7310, ext. 274, for tickets.