Betty Buckley, LaChanze, Michael Urie, et al. Join BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center announced new additions today to the star-studded line-up for BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7, the only Broadway event custom-made for the gay and lesbian community, our friends and families. The one-night-only benefit will now also include Tony Award-winners Betty Buckley and LaChanze (Color Purple), stage and television star Michael Urie (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, TV's "Ugly Betty") and TV icon George Takei ("Star Trek").

Also joining the cast are Jim Brochu (Zero Hour), Charles Busch (The Divine Sister), Dan Butler ("Frasier"), Len Cariou ("Blue Bloods," Sweeney Todd), Jenn Colella (High Fidelity), Nancy Dussault (Into the Woods), Harvey Evans, Anthony Federov ("American Idol"), Barrett Foa ("NCIS: LA" and Avenue Q), Jackie Hoffman (The Addams Family), Jessie Mueller (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever), Brian Charles Rooney (Threepenny Opera), Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon) and Elizabeth Stanley (Million Dollar Quartet).

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7 will be held Monday, March 5 at 8 PM at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). It is produced by Broadway Cares and benefits BC/EFA and the Center.

The just-announced performers join the previously announced Adam Pascal (Rent and Memphis), Andrew Rannels (The Book of Mormon), Bruce Vilanch, Bryan Batt (TV's “Mad Men”), Sierra Boggess (Master Class, Love Never Dies), Mario Cantone (Laugh Whore), Robin De Jesús (La Cage Aux Folles), Shawna Hamic (Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Tour) and Telly Leung (Godspell).

Tickets are available exclusively at broadwaycares.org or by calling 212.840.0770 , ext. 268. Prices range from $75 to $1,000, with additional benefactor packages available. This year also marks the introduction of the “Backstage & Beyond” ticket package, which includes the opportunity to see the dress rehearsal, exclusive backstage access, a meet-and-greet with some of the stars of Broadway Backwards, premium seats for the show and more.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS is not just another night on Broadway. It features some of Broadway’s biggest names singing songs originally written for the opposite gender: women singing songs written for men and men singing songs written for women. By keeping the lyrics intact, including the original pronouns, each song takes on a new dimension. BROADWAY BACKWARDS gives the audience a chance to see and hear some of the most treasured songs of the Great White Way in a whole new key.

Creator Robert Bartley will again direct and choreograph with musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell. The creative team also includes co-choreographers Stephanie Klemons (Bring It On) and Patrick O’Neill (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever), lighting designer Ryan O'Gara and costume designer Philip Heckman.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS began as a grassroots concert performed at the Center in 2006. In subsequent years, the event grew quickly, performing Off-Broadway at 37 Arts, followed by Roundabout’s American Airlines Theatre, Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont and last year at the Longacre Theatre.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS 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 theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $195 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

BC/EFA awards annual grants to more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide and is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.

For more information, visit broadwaycares.org, follow us at twitter.com/BCEFA or like us at facebook.com/BCEFA.

A beacon of hope for 29 years, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center builds and supports our community through arts and culture, wellness and recovery, HIV/AIDS services, family services and life-saving youth programs designed to foster healthy development in a safe, affirming environment. The Center envisions a world where LGBT people will no longer face discrimination or isolation because of who we are or who we love. We offer a welcoming home to thousands of visitors each year and are committed to serving all LGBT people through a variety of programs, services and activities that are designed to meet existing and emerging needs. The Center is many things to many people. We invite you to experience our home at 208 West 13th Street in person and online at gaycenter.org.