At the 2016 edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS, Broadway legend Chita Rivera brought her own brand of "razzle-dazzle" to Kander and Ebb's "All I Care About is Love" from CHICAGO. The actress delivered an unforgettable take on swarmy lawyer Billy Flynn, surrounded by a bevy of feathery beauties, many from the original 1996 CHICAGO revival cast, including Nili Bassman, Mindy Cooper, Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Gabriela Garcia, Mary Ann Lamb, Dana Moore and Solange Sandy. Click below to watch the full number!
The sold-out audience at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre was dazzled Monday, March 21, 2016, by this year's stirring edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS. The annual celebration, where men sing songs originally written for women and vice versa offering this audience the chance to see LGBT stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, set a new fundraising record. The evening raised an incredible $480,287 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City.
Tony Award winner Julie White, a longtime friend of Broadway Cares, handled hosting duties with her characteristic wit and warmth. The evening featured 18 delightful numbers, including memorable performances by Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera, Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple, Orange is the New Black), Jay Armstrong Johnson (On the Town, TV's Quantico), Olivier Award winner Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland), Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck (Finding Neverland) and more.
Produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS, this year's edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS featured an immensely talented 67-person cast and a live onstage orchestra, conducted by music director Tim Rosser.
BROADWAY BACKWARDS Creator Robert Bartley wrote and directed this year's show, with choreography by Bartley, Al Blackstone, David Bushman, JoAnn M. Hunter and Roberts. Mary-Mitchell Campbell served as music supervisor. The creative team included lighting designer Paul Miller, costume designer Matthew J. Kilgore and sound designer Matt Kraus. Chris De Camillis served as production stage manager.
