The 28th Annual Gypsy of the Year competition, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, is presented December 5 at 4:30 PM and December 6 at 2 PM at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Actor, musician, radio host, and Playbill.com columnist Seth Rudetsky returns as host for the ninth year.
The opening number boasts a performance by Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie, and Margo Sappington, the trio who originated the “Turkey Lurkey Time” dance in 1968’s Promises, Promises. The number is directed and choreographed by Al Blackstone, based on Michael Bennett’s original choreography, with music direction by Ted Arthur.
This year's show features more than 150 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers, including original numbers from Avenue Q, Chicago, The Color Purple, Fiddler on the Roof, Hamilton, The Lion King, On Your Feet!, Cirque du Soleil Paramour, School of Rock - The Musical, Waitress, and Wicked. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo also is set to perform, representing Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of BC/EFA.
Attendees can also expect guest appearances by Falsettos stars Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Anthony Rosenthal, and Brandon Uranowitz; Robert Creighton (Cagney); Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple); Lora Lee Gayer and Megan Sikora (Holiday Inn); Nick Kroll and John Mulaney (Oh, Hello on Broadway); Jessie Mueller (Waitress); Javier Muñoz (Hamilton), and more. Judith Light, a longtime supporter of Broadway Cares, returns to lead a moment of silence for those we have lost.
Gypsy of the Year includes a celebratory send off to Jersey Boys, commemorating the hit musical’s 11 years on Broadway before it closes January 15. The performance, written and directed by continuing original cast member Peter Gregus, includes more than 60 of the show’s stars from past and present, including Mark Ballas, Richard Blake, Charl Brown, Andy Karl, Drew Seeley, and Jarrod Spector.
Gypsy of the Year is a celebration of the dedication and passion of “gypsies,” the ensemble singers and dancers in Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring productions. Awards will be presented to the best presentation of the two days of performances, as well as to the shows raising the most money across the six-week fundraising period.
A panel of judges will award best presentation honors at the December 6 performance. This year's judges are James Barbour (The Phantom of the Opera), Denée Benton and Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), Clifton Davis (Aladdin), veteran actor Harvey Evans, Todrick Hall (Kinky Boots), Lisa Lampanelli (Stuffed), Lesli Margherita (Matilda The Musical), Mary Beth Peil (Anastasia), and Lee Perlman and Peg Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by bidding on VIP packages at the 30th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
Gypsy of the Year is directed by Jason Trubitt with Matthew Lutz serving as production stage manager.
The 27 editions of Gypsy of the Year have raised more than $67.3 million. Last year, 54 participating shows raised $4,786,239.
A limited number of tickets, starting at $30, are still available. They can be purchased at broadwaycares.org.
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Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
FOR THE BROADWAY CARES COLLECTION, VISIT PLAYBILLSTORE.COM.
