PIPPIN's Orion Griffiths Crowned 2013 BROADWAY BEAUTY PAGEANT Winner

The contestants for the seventh annual Broadway Beauty Pageant included Callan Bergmann (Silence! The Musical), Julius C. Carter (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Yurel Echezarreta (Matilda), Matthew Goodrich (The Nance), Orion Griffiths (Pippin), and Paul HeeSang Miller (Mamma Mia!). Four-time Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh hosted the event which took place on May 20th at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place).

Orion Griffiths took the crown at the event, which raised more than $50,000 for the Ali Forney Center.

Griffiths has performed with the Shrine Circus and in the Arnold Classic Sports Festival. Born into a circus family, has been performing since he was four. He has also worked as a model for Calvin Klein and Abercrombie & Fitch.

The Broadway Beauty Pageant featured Bergmann, Carter, Echezarreta, Goodrich, Griffiths, and Miller as they represent their respective Broadway shows, competing for the title crown through talent, interview and swimsuit competitions. The contestants went head to head in front of a panel of celebrity judges, but ultimately, the final vote was in the audience's hands.

Andrea Martin (Pippin), Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), and Michael Urie (Buyer and Cellar) judged the event. This year's winner will receive a photo shoot and cover in NEXT Magazine.

The Broadway Beauty Pageant was directed by Seth Sikes and choreographed by Paul McGill. The evening was conceived by Jeffrey Self and will be produced by the Ali Forney Center in association with Ryan Davis. The complete creative team included Brendan Whiting (Musical Director), Paul DePoo (Scenic Designer), Brian Tovar (Lighting Designer), Walter Trarbach (Sound Designer), and Jason Quinn (Production Stage Manager).

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy