Anthony Hollock, Mr. Hair, was crowned Mr. Broadway 2009 at the 3rd annual Broadway Beauty Pageant held Monday evening at Symphony Space. The popular event is the annual benefit of New York's Ali Forney Center, which provides shelter for homeless LGBT youth in New York City.
BroadwayWorld.com was there to cheer on all the talented contestants and celebrate a good night for a great cause!
The Broadway Beauty Pageant, formerly titled Mr. Broadway, featured male cast members representing their respective Broadway shows. Other contestants included James Brown III (Mr. Little Mermaid), Adam Fleming (Mr. Wicked), Tony James (Mr. Lion King) and David Larsen (Mr. Billy Elliot). Contestants competed for the title crown through talent, interview and swimsuit competitions.
Each contestant went head to head in front of a panel of celebrity judges, but ultimately, the final vote was in the audience's hands. The judges were Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live, Wicked), Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein), Charles Busch (The Third Story, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife) and Seth Rudetsky (Rhapsody in Seth, Chatterbox, The Ritz). The evening was hosted by the award-winning actress and current star of Irena's Vow, Ms. Tovah Feldshuh.
Current Miss New York, Leigh-Taylor Smith (who was third runner-up to Miss America) was there to crown Mr. Broadway too!
Following the coronation, the audience was given the opportunity to make an additional donation to the Ali Forney Center, resulting in over $9,000 raised at the door. Overall, the event raised more than $30,000; more than double last year's amount.
The Broadway Beauty Pageant is written and conceived by Jeffery Self and directed by Ryan J. Davis, with musical direction by Sonny Paladino. The evening is produced by Ryan J. Davis, Jeffrey Self and Wil Fisher in association with Matthew Oberstein and Tim Hur.
The Ali Forney Center (AFC) was started in June 2002 in response to the lack of safe shelter for LGBT youth in New York City. They have grown quickly to become the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth.
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
Anthony Hollock, Adam Fleming, David Larsen, James Brown III and Tony James
Marty Thomas
Marty Thomas
Marty Thomas and Frankie James Grande
Marty Thomas and Frankie James Grande
Marty Thomas
Marty Thomas and Frankie James Grande
Frankie James Grande and Marty Thomas with the ensemble
Jacob ben Widmar, Frankie James Grande, Marty Thomas and Luke Hawkins
Frankie James Grande and Marty Thomas
Frankie James Grande and Marty Thomas with ensemble
The cast takes a bow!
Charles Busch, Beth Leavel, Seth Rudetsky and Ana Gasteyer
Marty Thomas
Marty Thomas
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Tony James, James Brown III, David Larson, Adam Fleming and Anthony Hollock
Adam Fleming, Anthony Hollock and Marty Thomas
David Larsen, Adam Fleming, Marty Thomas, Anthony Hollock and current Miss NY Leigh-Taylor Smith
Anthony Hollock accepts his crown from Leigh-Taylor Smith!
Anthony Hollock basks in the glow of winning as Miss NY Leigh-Taylor Smith places on his crown
Anthony Hollock surrounded by Marty Thomas, Leigh-Taylor Smith and Frankie James Grande waves to a cheering crowd
Anthony Hollock
Anthony Hollock
Anthony Hollock
Anthony Hollock
Anthony Hollock
See you next year!
