For twenty years, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' holiday CD, Broadway's Carols for a Cure, has been a staple of every theatre-lover's wish list. The beloved series pairs casts from award-winning Broadway musicals with seasonal songs that are both classic and new. This year's 2-CD compilation, available now for $25 in the Broadway Cares store, features 28 tracks from the companies of Mean Girls, Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, and more! The album is also available at participating theaters through December 2, 2018.
"This year's special 20th anniversary edition features eighteen original, newly recorded singles, creatively arranged and performed by the incredibly talented performers and musicians from the 2018 Broadway season, along with ten bonus classics from past year's albums," explains producer Lynn Pinto. Once again, she has collaborated with engineer Andros Rodriguez on the album.
After twenty years of creating Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Lynn Pinto has developed a recipe that works. She allows each company a great deal of freedom in choosing the material and the style of their arrangement. She also works with their demanding Broadway schedules. "We record the musicians and singers in layers, utilizing isolation booths for a higher quality recording," she says. "It gives our holiday album a unique sound from most cast albums and allows us to properly showcase these amazing voices and instrumentalists."
The first Broadway's Carols for a Cure album debuted in 1999. Recorded at St. John's Church in Greenwich Village, it featured carols from the casts of Cabaret, Fosse, and Swing!, as well as from Chicago and Phantom of the Opera who also appear on the special 20th anniversary edition. Fans of today's Great White Way will be overjoyed to hear original recordings from other current top productions, too, including the cast of Mean Girls singing an all-new, frolicking version of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and the cast of Head Over Heels performing an original holiday number, "Head Over Holidays."
Additionally, the cast of My Fair Lady presents a sweeping rendition of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and the cast of Pretty Woman caps off the year in grand style with their beautiful adaptation of "Auld Lang Syne."
Also featured in the special 20th anniversary edition of Broadway's Carols for a Cure is a stirring tribute of "Over the Rainbow" to Jan Maxwell, the beloved five-time Tony Award nominee who passed away earlier this year.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals with serious illnesses including AIDS receive the health care and support they need. In addition, they provide financial support in the form of grants to AIDS and family service organizations throughout the country.
"No town is more festive than New York City for the holidays and no street here is as magical as Broadway! 2018's Broadway's Carols for a Cure is sure to be a favorite for all," promises Lynn Pinto.
2018 Broadway's Carols for a Cure Volume 20 exclusively benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Volumes 1 through 20 can be purchased in the web store at BroadwayCares.org or by calling Broadway Cares at 212-840-0770. 2018 Broadway's Carols for a Cure Volume 20 is also available at participating New York City theaters through December 2, 2018.
Below, check out exclusive photos of Erika Henningsen and the cast of Mean Girls as they record their track, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
DeMarius R. Copes and Iain Young
Erika Henningsen, Gianna Yanelli, Tee Boyich and Riza Takahashi
Collins Conley and Stephanie Bissonnette
Becca Petersen, Brittany Nicholas and Devon Hadsell
DeMarius R.Copes, Iain Young, Erika Henningsen, Gianna Yanelli, Tee Boyich, Riza Takahashi, Collins Conley, Stephanie Bissonnette, Becca Petersen, Brittany Nichols and Devon Hadsell
Elizabeth Doran (Assoc. Music Director)
Kevin Csolak, DeMarius R. Copes and Iain Young
DeMarius R. Copes and Kevin Csolak with Charity Auction Winner Ally Veloudis
Charity Auction Winner Ally Veloudis with Collins Conley, Devon Hadsell, Brittany Nicholas, Tee Boyich, Becca Petersen, Stephanie Bissonnette, Riza Takahashi and Erika Henningsen
Charity Auction Winner Ally Veloudis with Collins Conley, Devon Hadsell, Brittany Nicholas, Tee Boyich, Becca Petersen, Stephanie Bissonnette, Riza Takahashi and Erika Henningsen
Collins Conley and Brittany Nicholas
Natalie Tenenbaum (Keyboard)
James Rogers (Trombone) and Matt Owens (Trumpet)
Steve Kenyon (Alto Sax)
Matt Beck (Guitar)
Jon Epcar (Drums)
Jack Bashkow (Tenor Sax)
James Rogers, Natalie Tenenbaum, Steve Kenyon, Matt Beck, Jack Bashkow, Matt Owens, Mary Mitchell Campbell (Music Director), Jon Epcar and Matthew Rybicki
Mary Mitchell Campbell and Charity Auction Winner Ally Veloudis
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