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STAGE TUBE: Jay Armstrong Johnson Performs Swanky 'Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend' at BROADWAY BACKWARDS

By: Mar. 25, 2016
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At the 2016 edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS, Jay Armstrong Johnson let his inner Marilyn Monroe fly in a glittery rendition of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. Click below to watch the full performance!

The number also featured Dave August, Thomas Bevan, Ward Billeisen, Joshua Buscher-West, Alicia Charles, Seth Danner, Mallory Davis, Alexa De Barr, Karli Dinardo, Callie Gullickson, Kourtni Lind, Colby Lindeman, Mary Page Nance, Emily Palmquist, Waldemar Quinones-Villaneuva and Christopher Rice.

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.







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