A host of Broadway favorites are part of Broadway Cares' annual Red Bucket Follies—showcasing
multitalented ensemble members while celebrating six weeks of
in-theatre fundraising—December 9 at 4:30 PM and December 10 at 2 PM at
Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre. Seth Rudetsky again hosts.
Among the special guests scheduled to appear are Darlesia Cearcy, Kim Exum, Dionne Figgins, Jennie Harney-Fleming, and James Monroe Igelhart (A Wonderful World); Cole Escola (Oh, Mary!); Julie Halston and Jim Parsons (Our Town); Josh Lamon, Christopher Sieber, and Michelle Williams (Death Becomes Her); Ruthie Ann Miles (McNeal); Javier Muñoz (Hamilton); Nicole Scherzinger and David Thaxton (Sunset Boulevard); and Max von Essen (Chicago). Tony winner Betty Buckley will also make a special appearance to celebrate Broadway Cares’ newest addition to its Broadway Legends ornament series, which honors Buckley’s Tony-winning turn as Grizabella in Cats.
The opening number is directed, choreographed, and conceived by Andrew Turteltaub. Broadway and Off-Broadway shows set to share original songs, skits, and dances include Back to the Future: The Musical, Hamilton, Hell’s Kitchen, The Lion King, Six, Suffs, Titanique, and Wicked, as well as the Grammy-winning choir Broadway Inspirational Voices. Representing Dancers Responding to AIDS, Parsons Dance will share the joyful “Whirlaway.”
The show also includes a number directed and choreographed by Chaz Wolcott that honors the national touring shows that participated in the fall fundraising.
Awards will be given at the December 10 performance for the best presentation as well as the top fundraising Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring shows. Judges will include Tom Francis (Sunset Boulevard); Nikki M. James and Shaina Taub (Suffs); Kimberly Marable and Bianca Marroquin (Chicago); Mary Kate Morrissey and Alexandra Socha (Wicked); Bebe Neuwirth and Steven Skybell (Cabaret); and Conrad Ricamora (Oh, Mary!) as well as Wayne Vincent, Gary Wendlandt, and Peg Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by bidding on VIP packages at the 38th annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.
Red Bucket Follies is directed by Jason Trubitt with Bernadette Schoenborn as production stage manager and Ted Arthur as music director.
Since 1989, the 32 editions of Red Bucket Follies (originally called Gypsy of the Year) have raised $98.9 million to benefit Broadway Cares.
A limited number of tickets, starting at $40, are available at BroadwayCares.org/Follies.
