Broadway's top musical artists are set to appear on tonight's (June 21st) telecast of "Maya & Marty" on NBC to perform "What the World Needs Now Is Love," an updated version of the classic Burt Bacharach/Hal David song that is helping to support the devastated LGBT community of Orlando, Fla.
A slew of stage vets rehearsed the song earlier today, and Seth Rudetsky captured a sneak preview. Check it out below!
The appearance marks the first time the song will be performed outside the recording studio by this all-star Broadway lineup.
Soon after the Orlando shooting, approximately 60 of Broadway's top stars - as well as those currently in Los Angeles and Miami - contributed their talents to record what is being titled the "Broadway for Orlando" initiative. The song and accompanying video is currently sold on BroadwayRecords.com and will be available on iTunes with all proceeds going to the LGBT Center of Central Florida.
"Ever since this tragedy happened, which touched so many people in the world as well as our company in Orlando, we've been looking for more ways to raise awareness and help the victims and their families," said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. "Lorne Michaels and I are so pleased to showcase this song of love - about love - and we thank the Broadway community, producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, and Van Dean of Broadway Records for putting this incredible recording together so quickly. On behalf of Maya, Marty and everyone at NBC, please buy it so we can directly help the LGBT community in Orlando!"
Among those currently scheduled to appear on the "Maya & Marty" telecast are Roger Bart (Tony winner, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"), Andrea Burns ("On Your Feet"), Tituss Burgess ("Guys and Dolls"), Charles Busch (Tony nominee, "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife"), Ann Hampton Callaway(Tony nominee, "Swing!"), Paul Castree ("Disaster!"), Michael Cerveris (two-time Tony winner, "Fun Home," Assassins"), Kevin Chamberlin (three-time Tony nominee, "The Addams Family," "Seussical," "Dirty Blonde"), Lilla Crawford ("Annie"), Cynthia Erivo, (Tony winner, "The Color Purple"), Victor Garber (four-time Tony nominee, "Damn Yankees," "Lend Me a Tenor," "Little Me," "Deathtrap"), Ana Gasteyer ("Wicked"), Renee Elise Goldsberry (Tony winner, "Hamilton"), Frankie James Grande ("Born Yesterday"), Whoopi Goldberg (Tony winner, "Thoroughly Modern Millie"), Joel Grey (Tony winner, "Cabaret"),Sean Hayes (Tony nominee, "Promises, Promises"), Megan Hilty (Tony nominee, "Noises Off"), James Monroe Iglehart (Tony winner, "Aladdin"), Judy Kuhn(four-time Tony nominee, "Fun Home," "She Loves Me," "Chess," "Les Miserables"), Jose Llana ("The King and I"), Anika Larsen (Tony nominee, "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical"), Beth Malone (Tony nominee, "Fun Home"), Andrea Martin (two-time Tony winner, "Pippin," "My Favorite Year"), Janet Metz ("Falsettoland"), Brian Stokes Mitchell (two-time Tony winner, "Kiss Me, Kate," Isabelle Stevenson Award), Jessie Mueller (Tony winner, "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical"), Kelli O'Hara (Tony winner, "The King and I"), Rory O'Malley (Tony nominee, "The Book of Mormon"), Orfeh (Tony nominee, "Legally Blonde"), Christine Pedi (Sirius XM Broadway host), Rosie Perez ("Fish in the Dark"), Billy Porter (Tony winner, "Kinky Boots"), Alice Ripley (Tony winner, "Next to Normal"), Chita Rivera (two-time Tony winner, "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Rink"), Keala Settle (Tony nominee, "Hands on a Hardbody"), KateShindle ("Legally Blonde"), Jennifer Simard (Tony nominee, "Disaster!"), James Wesley ("Disaster!"), Juli Wesley ("Disaster"), LiLlias White (Tony winner, "The Life"), Marissa Jaret Winokur (Tony winner, "Hairspray") and B.D. Wong (Tony winner, "M. Butterfly").
"The Broadway community was so terribly shaken and devastated by the horrific tragedy in Orlando. Everyone wanted to do something as quickly as possible that would truly make a difference," said SiriusXM radio host Seth Rudetsky, who helped organize the recording with his husband, producer James Wesley, along with Broadway Records President Van Dean.
"Maya & Marty" is executive produced by Lorne Michaels. Matt Roberts, Erin David, Dave Becky and Marc Gurvitz produce along with Rudolph and Short.
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