Broadway Backwards has revealed another round of this year's all-star lineup!
The annual benefit concert celebrating the LGBTQ+ community via songs from the musical theatre will play Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre, current home of Wicked, March 10. Produced by Broadway Cares, the evening will benefit the theatrical nonprofit and New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center). Broadway Backwards favorite and Tony nominee Jenn Colella (Suffs) will return for the fifth year to host the concert.
This year's performers will include Bobby Conte (The Who’s Tommy), Tony nominee Lorna Courtney (& Juliet), Nikki Renée Daniels (Once Upon a Mattress), Tony and Emmy nominee Eden Espinosa (Lempicka), Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot), Sydney James Harcourt (Cats: "The Jellicle Ball"), Tony nominee Dorian Harewood (The Notebook), Manu Narayan (Company), Jessica Phillips (Redwood), Conrad Ricamora (Oh, Mary!), and Ryan Vasquez (The Notebook).
They will join the previously announced Tituss Burgess (Oh, Mary!), Tony winner Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd), Bradley Dean (Redwood), Dionne Figgins (A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical), Jordan Fisher (Urinetown), Lydia Gaston (The King and I), Tony nominee Joshua Henry (Into the Woods), Tony winner Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliott: The Musical), Adam Lambert (Cabaret), Tiffany Mann (Urinetown), Tony winner Kelli O’Hara (Days of Wine and Roses), Preston Perez (A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical), Kate (Kei) Tsuruharatani (Jagged Little Pill), Remi Tuckman (DRAG: The Musical) and Joy Woods (Gypsy). The company will be joined by a to-be-announced dancing ensemble, rounding out the cast to more than 100 performers.
What began as a small, grassroots concert performed at The Center in 2006 has grown into a highly anticipated event. In its 18 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $7.9 million for Broadway Cares and The Center. Creator Robert Bartley will return to direct and choreograph the show. He will be joined by Ted Arthur and Mary-Mitchell Campbell as music supervisors, Nicholas Connors and Nick Wilders as music directors, and Chris Gurr as associate music director. Amanda LaMotte joins as choreographer, and Adam Roberts will return as choreographer and associate director. ARC’s Mark Brandon and Jarrett Reiche serve as casting consultants.
VIP tickets include premium seats and a special post-show reception with the cast. A limited number of “Backstage & Beyond” ticket packages also are available.
Broadway Cares 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 theater community, since 1988 Broadway Cares has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
Tickets are now available at BroadwayCares.org.
