The 10th anniversary of Broadway Backwards capped off an exuberant, exhilarating and emotional evening of performances on Monday, March 9, 2015 with news that this year's event raised a record $466,717 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. BroadwayWorld has exclusive photos from the show below, plus check out more images here!
The sold-out show included 20 audience-pleasing numbers and multiple standing ovations for Tituss Burgess, Lena Hall, Florence Henderson, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lillias White and more Broadway favorites, as well as a special appearance by recent Kennedy Center Honoree Lily Tomlin. Julie Halston and Rob McClure served as the evening's jovial hosts.
Broadway Backwards (#bwaybackwards) is the annual celebration where gays and lesbians see their stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, sung by their favorite Broadway performers. It is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and was presented again in the historic Al Hirschfeld Theatre, home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots.
This year's edition of Broadway Backwards featured a spirited 66-person cast and an onstage orchestra of 13 performing some of the most memorable numbers from previous editions of the benefit. This year's fundraising total surpassed the previous record of $423,182, set last year. In its 10 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $2.4million for Broadway Cares and The Center.
Broadway Backwards creator Robert Bartley again directed and choreographed the show. Also returning were Mary-Mitchell Campbell as music supervisor and Tim Rosser as music director. Production Stage Manager Peter Lawrenceled a team of 12 stage managers. Adam Roberts served as associate choreographer with lighting design by Ryan O'Gara and costume design by Bernadette Banner.
Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia
Shawna M. Hamic and the Cast of Broadway Backwards
Brian Charles Rooney, Jason Michael Snow and Telly Leung
Brian Charles Rooney, Jason Michael Snow and Tell Leung
Douglass Sills
Florence Henderson, Julie Halston and Rob McClure
Florence Henderson and Ryan Steele
Tituss Burgess and Charl Brown
Titus Burgess with Charl Bown, Jaime Cepero, Steven Cutts, Brandon Pearson, Dennis Stowe and Curtis Wiley
Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva
Alfie Parker
Josh Buscher-West
The Cell Block Tango
Jim Brochu, Charlie Williams and Harvey Evans
Jen Colella and Elizabeth Stanley
Jen Colella and the Girls
Micah Stock, Rob McClure and Robin De Jesus
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