Photo Flash: Wayne Brady, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laura Michelle Kelly and More Take the Stage in BC/EFA's GYPSY OF THE YEAR

BC/EFA just announced this year's GYPSY OF THE YEAR raised an impressive grand total of $4,786,239 after six weeks of fundraising efforts. Since 1989, the 27 editions of GYPSY OF THE YEAR (#GypsyOfTheYear) have raised $67.3 million to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld has stunning shots from the show below!

The grand total was revealed to thunderous applause by special guests Michael Cerveris (Fun Home), George Takei (Allegiance) and Julie White (Sylvia) following two festive afternoons of performances on December 7 and 8, 2015, at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, home to Disney's Aladdin. More than 150 of the most talented singers and dancers in the ensembles of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows performed original dances, songs and skits to the cheers of standing-room-only audiences.

Cerveris, Takei and White also presented awards to the top fundraising companies and for the best performances in this year's show.

The company of Kinky Boots took honors for best onstage presentation for a freestyle rap led by the show's newest star, Wayne Brady, and surprise guest rappers Christopher Jackson and Lin-Manuel Miranda from this season's Broadway sensation Hamilton. The trio showed off their improvisational chops, topping each other in a rap based entirely on words spontaneously provided by the audience.

The cast of The Lion King was runner-up with a gripping number created by Ray Mercer. Through carefully staged acrobatic movements set on graffitied wooden boxes and inspired by the spoken-word poetry of cast mate L. Steven Taylor, Mercer cast a cautious eye at society's obsession with social media and self-image.

GYPSY OF THE YEAR, opened with the tap-happy journey of a stage manager, played by Ryan Kasprzak, who reluctantly ditches his headset and clipboard to step into the spotlight as a last-minute replacement. He ultimately leads an ensemble of 20 exuberant tappers in an uplifting number, set to Walk the Moon's energetic "Shut Up and Dance." The opening number was directed and choreographed by Al Blackstone, assisted by Morgan Rose, with music direction and arrangements by Ben Cohn.

Seth Rudetsky, host of "Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on SiriusXM and co-writer and star of the upcoming Broadway musical Disaster!, made his eighth annual appearance as Gypsy of the Year 's master of ceremonies. Once again his masterful "deconstructions" of Hamilton, Annie's "NYC" and Barbra Streisand's "He Touched Me" were a highlight of the afternoon.

Finding Neverland's Laura Michelle Kelly led "We Can Be Kind," a poignant response to the recent escalating unrest at home and abroad, featuring a chorus of kids from the companies of Finding Neverland, Fun Home, The King and I, Kinky Boots, LES MISERABLES, The Lion King, Matilda The Musical and On Your Feet!.

GYPSY OF THE YEAR also included a special number recognizing national touring productions that fundraise. Choreographed by Geoffrey Goldberg, the number followed the national tour companies' fast-paced journey from security at the airport to the stage and after-show collections for Broadway Cares.

Jackson and Miranda also joined their Hamilton co-star Renée Elise Goldsberry as guest presenters, while Lesli Margherita from Dames at Sea and Matilda The Musical's Christopher Sieber announced the shows that helped the fundraising efforts but did not appear in the show.

A longtime friend and supporter of BC/EFA, two-time Tony winner Judith Light (Thérèse Raquin) led the audience in a touching moment of silence to remember the countless lives lost and impacted by HIV/AIDS.

The esteemed panel of judges that selected the best presentation award winners was introduced by Camryn Manheim (Spring Awakening), Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!) and Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris).

GYPSY OF THE YEAR was directed by Kristin Newhouse with Jason Trubitt serving as production stage manager, leading a team of 11 expert stage managers, and Ben Cohn as music supervisor. Lighting design was by Philip Rosenberg and sound by Marie Renee Foucher and Kurt Fischer.

Photo Credit: Monica Simoes