Dozens of Broadway Stars To Record 'What The World Needs Now Is Love' for Broadway For Orlando

Broadway Records President Van Dean, SiriusXM Radio Host Seth Rudetsky and Producer James Wesley today announced the charitable initiative "Broadway for Orlando" and an all-star roster of theater artists to record the new benefit single "What the World Needs Now is Love."

Created to honor the victims and those wounded in the Orlando shooting massacre at Pulse nightclub and aid the surrounding community, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the song will benefit the LGBT Center of Central Florida. The digital download of the iconic 1965 song will be priced at $1.99 and is available for purchase on the label's website at BroadwayRecords.com beginning Monday, June 20, 2016, and iTunes shortly thereafter.

"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 Seth Rudetsky.

"On Monday, my husband James woke me up at 7:30 AM and suggested we rally our friends and colleagues to do a 'We Are the World' type recording and raise money for the victims and their families. We started making calls and suddenly we had tons of theater actors along with an orchestra and the services of a fully-staffed recording studio, all willing to donating their time and talent. Our community of artists has banded together as we always do to show we can end this cycle of violence and intolerance. Love WILL prevail!"

Participating artists scheduled to record include in New York (and remotely in Los Angeles and Miami) include: Sara Bareilles, Roger Bart, Kristen Bell, Wayne Brady, Matthew Broderick, Andréa Burns, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Len Cariou, Paul Castree, Michael Cerveris, Joshua Colley, Lilla Crawford, Carmen Cusack, Darius de Haas, Fran Drescher, Gloria Estefan, Christopher Fitzgerald, Sutton Foster, Kimiko Glenn, Whoopi Goldberg, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Joel Grey, Sean Hayes, Heather Headley, Nina Hennessy, Megan Hilty, James Monroe Iglehart, Bill Irwin, Carole King, Jane Krakowski, Judy Kuhn, Nathan Lane, Anika Larsen, Jennifer Lewis, Zachary Levi, Jose Llana, Rebecca Luker, Andrea Martin, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brian Stokes Mitchell, , Jessie Mueller, Donna Murphy, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelli O'Hara, Rory O'Malley, Orfeh, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie Perez, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Alice Ripley, Chita Rivera, Keala Settle, Kate Shindle, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Will Swenson, Rachel Tucker, Tommy Tune, Jonah Verdon, LiLlias White, Marissa Jaret Winokur, BD Wong and Tony Yazbeck.

"What the World Needs Now is Love" (music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David) 2016 benefit recording is executive produced by Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley and Van Dean, and produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr., and Michael Croiter. Music direction by Seth Rudetsky, Steve Marzullo and Marc Shaiman, orchestrations by Cameron Moncur and vocal arrangements by Seth Rudetsky. Steve Marzullo will conduct the 25-piece orchestra.

Additional funding and donation of goods and services for the Broadway in Orlando initiative made in part by Avatar Studios, Broadway Records, Local 802 AFM, Ed Wedberg, Mark Sendroff of Sendroff & Baruch, LLP, Janet Billig Rich, Carroll Music, Charles Gordon, Joey Monda, Karen Evanouskas, Mary J. Davis, Kathie Lee Gifford, Daniel Rafinejad, Gary and Jaime Rubenstein and Jeremy Daniel Photography, in partnership with The Center, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, serving NYC's LGBT community. Hospitality and craft services by Blake Ross, Planet Hollywood, Buca di Beppo, Whole Foods NYC, Kikka Sushi, Hill Country and Schmackary's Cookies.