Broadway Backwards, the annual benefit concert celebrating the LGBTQ+ community via songs from musical theatre, returned to Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, current home of Disney's Aladdin, March 13.
Produced by Broadway Cares, the evening benefited the theatrical nonprofit and New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, raising a record-breaking $765,069. Jenn Colella hosted the in-person event for the third time.
To celebrate Pride Month, Broadway Cares recently released the opening number from the benefit, the inspiring anthem “One Day More,” here set among a group of activists preparing for an equality march in Washington. Watch Philippe Arroyo, Bradley Dean, Jeigh Madjus, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Chris McCarrell, Turner Riley, Alexandra Silber, and Paul C. Vogt lead the ensemble in the powerful rendition of the Les Misérables tune.
The Set List: See Who Sang What Songs at This Year's Broadway Backwards Concert
The fundraiser featured the talents of F. Murray Abraham, George Abud, Arroyo, Corbin Bleu, Wayne Brady, Len Cariou, Dean, Dormeshia, Eden Espinosa, Robbie Fairchild, Barrett Foa, Adrianna Hicks, Robyn Hurder, Beth Leavel, Bonnie Milligan, Madjus, Marsh, McCarrell, Samantha Pauly, Anthony Rapp, Riley, Lea Salonga, Kyle Scatliffe, A.J. Shively, Silber, Ali Stroker, Paulo Szot, and Vogt.
Check out photos from the evening below. Watch other video highlights from the concert by clicking here.
Jenn Colella
F. Murray Abraham
Lea Salonga and Ensemble of Broadway Backwards
Ali Stroker
Paolo Szot
Beth Leavel
Robbie Fairchild
Bonnie Milligan
Barrett Foa and George Abud
Anthony Rapp
Wayne Brady
Robyn Hurder, Samantha Gershman, and Brinie Wallace
Cast of Broadway Backwards
Len Cariou
Eden Espinosa and Samantha Pauly
Dormeshia
A.J. Shively and Kyle Scatliffe
Adrianna Hicks
Corbin Bleu
Corbin Bleu
The ensemble included Andrés Acosta, Lawrence Alexander, Alex Aponte, Charles Barksdale, Joe Beauregard, Tiffan Borelli, Marissa Bregande, Randy Castillo, Andrew Cheng, Kate Coffey, Emily Croft, Nicholas Cunningham, Christina Galvis, Henry Gendron, Marshall Hagins, Javier Ignacio, Jaquez, Gabriella Joy, Sarah Kleist, David Lamarr, Kevin Loreque, Sean McGee, Miachael Olarbige, Amma Osei, Lukas Poost, Kevin Reed, Daniell Erin Rhodes, Janelle Farias Sando, Robbie Serrano, Molly Stilliens, Esteban Suero, Alec Varcas, and Mark William.
Broadway Backwards creator Robert Bartley once again directed. Bartley, Lauren Gemelli, Hurder, Mimi Quillin, Adam Roberts, Luis Salgado, and Tony Yazbeck choreographed with musical supervision by Ted Arthur and Mary-Mitchell Campbell. Jeff Brancato served as production stage manager.
The evening also had lighting design by Nyle Farmer, sound design by Maria Renee Foucher, prop design by Jenna Snyder and Alexander Wylie, and costume design by Tyler Carlton Williams, Jess Gersz, and Nicole Zausmer. Binder Casting’s Mark Brandon and Chad Eric Murnane returned as casting consultants.
The event began as a grassroots concert performed at The Center in 2006. Last year, Backwards returned to the New Amsterdam after a two-year pause due to the pandemic. The standing-room-only return raised a record $758,582, besting the previous record set by 2021’s virtual edition. In its 17 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $7 million for Broadway Cares and The Center.
Visit BroadwayCares.org.
