STAGE TUBE: Tony Yazbeck, Chita Rivera, Danielle Brooks and More Belt for BC/EFA at BROADWAY BACKWARDS - Watch Highlights!

By: Mar. 22, 2016
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The sold-out audience at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre was dazzled Monday, March 21, 2016, by this year's stirring edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS. 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. BroadwayWorld has highlights, featuring performers Tony Yazbeck, Chita Rivera, Danielle Brooks and more, below! Plus, click here for photos!

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.

The cast also included Broadway favorites Nick Adams, Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess, Len Cariou, Nathan Lee Graham, Eddie Korbich, Telly Leung, Beth Malone, Lesli Margherita, Karen Mason, Kenita R. Miller, Brad Oscar, Krysta Rodriguez, Tony Sheldon, Ricky Ubeda, Treat Williams and Broadway trio Apollo Link.

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.

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.

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.

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 theatres. In its 11 editions, BROADWAY BACKWARDS has raised more than $2.4 million for Broadway Cares and The Center.



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