Broadway favorites took it off for a good cause at the 30th anniversary of Broadway Bares, titled XXX, presented June 26 in New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares, the two standing-room-only performances raised $1,893,715 for the organization. Longtime Broadway Cares supporter Dwight Curry personally donated $200,000 to the night’s total.
The anniversary celebration immersed audiences into a risqué reverie of Broadway Bares’ history, revisiting highlights from Bares’ 30 years of performances. The production featured 170 dancers, led by host Maulik Pancholy, joined by Nathan Lee Graham and Lesli Margherita. The evening featured special guest appearances by 2022 Tony Awards host and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose, Funny Girl’s Ramin Karimloo and POTUS’ Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura, and Julie White.
Lead performers included Bonnie Milligan, Jason Tam, the Queens of Broadway's SIX (Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Andrea Macasaet, Brittney Mack, and Courtney Mack), Jason Williams, Elliott Mattox, Darius Wright, Afra Hines, drag performer Elliott with 2 T's, Ryan VanDenBoom, Collin Heyward, Joe Beauregard, Michael Scott Gomez, Marie Rose Baramo, Timothy Hughes, Justin Prescott, Tomás Matos, Brandon Stonestreet, Akira Armstrong, Shani Talmor, Christopher Hernandez, Christopher Sieber, Ben Ryan, and Ricky Schroeder.
A Strange Loop’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning creator Michael R. Jackson made a special appearance alongside Mitchell at the conclusion of the show, giving thanks to the night’s sponsors.
“I see thousands standing together who will not be dismissed or demeaned,” Jackson told the crowd, “who find strength in their unique expression that is empowered by love, determination and courage. And tonight, by an even stronger sense of coming together as a community. One that is built on inclusion and equity for all.”
On behalf of Broadway Cares, Mitchell and Jackson received M•A•C Viva Glam’s check of $200,000 from Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer Aïda Moudachirou-Rébois along with Sandy Joseph, Jeanine Machado and Cesar Silva, honoring the “artistry, glamor and generosity of spirit” of Broadway Bares. M•A•C has previously donated more than $4 million to Broadway Cares.
Stripathon, the online portion of the fundraiser that is led by the show’s cast and crew, raised $757,142. The top Stripathon member, who is bestowed with the title of Commando-in-Chief, was Mark MacKillop, setting an all-time Broadway Bares fundraising record for an individual with a final total of $70,549. He was followed by runners up Ben Ryan at $39,496 and Ricky Schroeder at $30,300.
The evening was directed by Laya Barak, who led the last live edition, Broadway Bares: Take Off, in 2019. This production marked Barak’s third time directing Broadway Bares. Jonathan Lee served as associate director. Mitchell and Nick Kenkel, a longtime Bares director and performer, acted as executive producers. Broadway Bares: XXX was written by Hunter Bell and Troy Britton Johnson, and featured lighting design by Joel Shier, scenic design by David Arsenault, and sound design by Nick Borisjuk. Production stage managers were Jereme Kyle Lewis and Johnny Milani with Sarah Helgesen as stage manager.
The production featured choreography by Barak, Kenkel, Lee, Al Blackstone, Jessica Castro, Chloe Davis, Armando Farfan, Richard J. Hinds, Stephanie Klemons, Sekou McMiller, Michael Lee Scott, Gabby Sorrentino, Kellen Stancil, and Andrew Turteltaub.
Broadway Bares was created in 1992 by Mitchell as a way to raise awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS. While working as a dancer on Broadway, Mitchell and six of his friends raised $8,000 with the first iteration. The last two editions were COVID-safe virtual presentations in 2020 and 2021. Since 1988, Broadway Bares has raised more than $21 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
