Jackson, Mayes & More Join BROADWAY BACKWARDS 2/9, Caruso to Host

Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Tony Award nominee Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Kate Reinders (Good Vibrations, Gypsy; one-half of TASTiSKANK) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line) have just been added to the roster of performers to be featured in Broadway Backwards 4, joining previously announced performers Mario Cantone (Assassins, TV's "Sex and the City"), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Gina Gershon (Cabaret, Showgirls), Whoopi Goldberg (Producer: Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's "The View"), Aaron Lazar (Les Misérables), Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein, How to Succeed in Business..., TV's "Will & Grace"), Jai Rodriguez (TV's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," Rent), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Marty Thomas (Xanadu); and TV's "Ugly Betty" stars Becki Newton and Michael Urie.

Joining the roundup on Monday, February 9, 2009 as Host will be Jim Caruso, who recently appeared alongside Liza Minnelli in Liza's At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of the late Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. And for the past six years, Jim Caruso has hosted a Monday night showbiz bash called "Jim Caruso's Cast Party," which was honored with a New York Nightlife Award, as was his Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Broadway Backwards is a star-studded event featuring songs that even those not familiar with Broadway know and love, with a very unique and memorable twist. Instead of seeing a woman sing the iconic "As Long As He Needs Me" from Oliver! for example, if that song were to be featured in Broadway Backwards, you might see someone like Alan Cumming sing it! The gender-reversed benefit concert extravaganza is one of the Center's most anticipated events of the year, and on Monday, February 9, 2009, Broadway Backwards returns to Broadway's American Airlines Theatre.

Back at the creative and directorial helm is its creator Robert Bartley. And we are thrilled to welcome back John Kander and Terrence McNally as event co-chairs. Our Platinum Sponsors this year are HBO and the New York Marriott Marquis. For a full list of corporate sponsors please visit us online at gaycenter.org.

For more information about purchasing tickets, VIP tickets that include the afterparty with performers, up-to-the minute information about the event, and regularly updated cast announcements, please visit us online at gaycenter.org.

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski