A host of Broadway stars recently took over the New Amsterdam stage for the annual Broadway Backwards concert, held March 13. Produced by Broadway Cares, the evening benefits the theatrical nonprofit and New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.
An annual favorite, the concert gives voice to queer experiences by changing the gender of the performer of popular show tunes, but not the pronouns of the objects of their desires. This allows classic songs to be performed in a new light, and this year's was no exception.
Check out the set list from the 2023 concert:
- "Willkommen" from Cabaret, performed by Jenn Colella
- "Mein Herr" from Cabaret, performed by Corbin Bleu and ensemble
- "I've Got Your Number" from Little Me, performed by Adrianna Hicks
- "All 'Er Nothin'" from Oklahoma, performed by A.J. Shively and Kyle Scatliffe with Michal Kolaczkowski, Waldemar Quiñones-Villanueva, and ensemble
- "The Right Girl" from Follies, performed by Dormeshia
- "Agony" from Into the Woods, performed by Eden Espinosa and Samantha Pauly
- "Something Wonderful" from The King and I, performed by Len Cariou
- "One Day More" from Les Misérables, performed by Phillippe Arroyo, Bradley Dean, Jeigh Madjus, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Chris McCarrell, Turner Riley, Alexandra Silber, Paul C. Vogt, and ensemble
- "Buddy's Blues" from Follies, performed by Robyn Hurder with Samantha Gershman and Brinie Wallace
- "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" from Grease, performed by Wayne Brady
- "I Can Do Better Than That" from The Last Five Years, performed by Anthony Rapp
- "I'd Do Anything" from Oliver!, performed by George Abud and Barrett Foa
- "Maria" from West Side Story, performed by Bonnie Milligan
- "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" from Leave It to Me, performed by Robert Fairchild and ensemble
- "In Love With You" from First Date, performed by Beth Leavel
- "Where Is the Warmth?" from The Baker's Wife, performed by Paulo Szot
- "What Do I Need With Love?" from Thoroughly Modern Millie, performed by Ali Stroker
- "Love Who You Love" from A Man of No Importance, performed by Lea Salonga and ensemble
The ensemble for the evening 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 directed, joined by associate director Lauren Gemelli. Bartley, Mimi Quillin, Adam Roberts, and Luis Salgado are the show’s choreographers with musical supervision by Ted Arthur and Mary-Mitchell Campbell. Jeff Brancato served as production stage manager.