ROCKERS ON BROADWAY - HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR, the latest edition of Broadway's favorite benefit Rock and Roll concert series, took place yesterday at the Midtown Theatre at the HA! Comedy Club (163 West 46th Street, NYC) with shows at 7PM and 10PM. Proceeds beneitted The Broadway Dreams Foundation, Broadway in South Africa and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Rockers on Broadway, now in its 18th year, was founded by Donnie Kehr while appearing in the Broadway run of The Who's Tommy and was inspired by Pete Townshend, who wanted the play's performers to experience the feeling of singing with a rock band in a concert style venue, and to transfer the rawness of that edge to the stage.
Des McAnuff, who performed the Rolling Stones classic "Sympathy for the Devil" shared the stage with Kehr (Jersey Boys) and Cheryl Freeman (The Civil War) who will reprise her show stopping "The Acid Queen." Joining them was an all-star line up of Broadway favorites including Tony Award winners Jarrod Emick (Damn Yankees) and Wilson Jermaine Heredia (RENT), Billy Porter (Angels in America, Ghetto Superstar) and Gerry McIntyre (Once on this Island), Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer), Jeremy Schonfeld (Clear Blue Tuesday), Emma Hunton (Next to Normal), Michael Lanning (Bonnie & Clyde), Delisco James (Aida) Ben Cameron (Wicked), Alena Watters (Sister Act), Brandon Wardell (Catch Me If You Can) Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), Dustin Brayley (RENT), Margaret Kelly (Les Miserables), Steve Gouviea (Jersey Boys), The Broadway Dolls with special appearances by RAndy Jones (The Village People) and Tommy Byrnes (Billy Joel Band member).
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Rehearsals begin for Rockers on Broadway
Delisco James and the dancers go through Thriller
Delisco James
Delisco James and the Thriller Dancers
Delisco James and the Thriller Dancers
Joseph Church (Musical Director) and some of the band-Kevin Dow, Ken Dow and Susan Aquila
Jessica Carvo and Avi Amon
Just hanging around waiting for the show to begin
Ben Cameron (host of tonight's show)
Joseph Church with tonight's band-Joshua Stephen Kartes, Ken Dow, Kevin Dow, Susan Aquila and Tommy Byrnes
Broadway Dolls-Robyn Hurder, Hollie Howard and Nicolette Hart
Robyn Hurder, Hollie Howard and Nicolette Hart
Cori Gardner (Producer of tonight's show)
Annette Tanner from the Broadway Dreams Foundation joins some of the cast of tonight's show
Eric Michael Krop and Morgan James
Alena Watters, Emma Hunton and Bonnie Byrnes
Alena Watters, Emma Hunton and Bonnie Byrnes
Donnie Kehr (Founder of Rockers on Broadway)
Delisco James
Delisco James
Delisco James and the Thriller Dancers do one more run through
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