Renee Elise Goldsberry, Wayne Brady, Laura Michelle Kelly & More Take Part in BC/EFA's GYPSY OF THE YEAR, Starting Today

The 27th annual edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition will feature special performances from 14 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows today, December 7 (4:30 PM) and tomorrow, December 8 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC). Gypsy of the Year (#gypsyoftheyear) celebrates six weeks of intensive fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.

The show will include guest appearances by Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots), Andréa Burns (On Your Feet!), Gavin Creel (The Book of Mormon), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton), Christopher Jackson (Hamilton), Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland), Judith Light (Thérèse Raquin), Camryn Manheim (Spring Awakening), Lesli Margherita (Dames at Sea), Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!), Christopher Sieber (Matilda The Musical) and Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris). At Tuesday's performance, the awards for this year's top fundraisers will be announced by Michael Cerveris (Fun Home), George Takei (Allegiance) and Julie White (Sylvia).

This year's show will feature more than 150 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers. Shows scheduled to perform original numbers include An American in Paris, Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Hamilton, The King and I, Kinky Boots, LES MISERABLES, The Lion King, Company XIV's Nutcracker Rouge, On Your Feet! and Trip of Love.

Gypsy of the Year honors the tireless work of "gypsies," the ensemble singers and dancers in Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. They and their special guests will perform original skits, songs and dances. Awards will be presented for the best presentation during the two performances and for the shows raising the most money during the six-week effort.

Broadway insider and longtime Broadway Cares friend Seth Rudetsky ("Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on Sirius/XM) will host the show for the eighth year.

The opening number will be directed and choreographed by Al Blackstone with music direction by Ben Cohn. A special tribute to national touring productions will be directed and choreographed by Geoffrey Goldberg.

A panel of judges will award best presentation honors at Tuesday's performance. This year's judges are Philip Birsh, president and chief executive of Playbill and BC/EFA's Board of Trustees treasurer; John Cariani and Kate Reinders (Something Rotten!); Veanne Cox (An American in Paris); Alma Cuervo and Ana Villafane (On Your Feet!); Telly Leung and Lea Salonga (Allegiance); Actors' Equity Association President Kate Shindle and choreographer Sergio Trujillo (On Your Feet!). Also joining the panel are Lee Perlman and Gary Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by bidding on exclusive VIP packages at the 29th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.

Gypsy of the Year will be directed by Kristin Newhouse with Jason Trubitt serving as production stage manager.

The 26 editions of Gypsy of the Year thus far have raised more than $62.4 million. Last year, 64 participating shows raised a record breaking $5,229,611.

A limited number of tickets, starting at at $30 remain available. They can be purchased online at broadwaycares.org or by calling 212.840.0770, ext. 268.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic. Broadway Cares also awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states.

For more information, please visit Broadway Cares online at broadwaycares.org, at facebook.com/BCEFA, at twitter.com/BCEFA, at youtube.com/BCEFA and at instagram.com/BCEFA.