Stars of FALSETTOS, THE COLOR PURPLE, HAMILTON, JERSEY BOYS and More Slated for BC/EFA's 28th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR

After six dedicated weeks of fundraising, the brightest stars from Broadway and Off-Broadway's biggest hits will share one-of-a-kind performances at the 28th annual Gypsy of the Year competition on Monday, December 5 (4:30 pm) and Tuesday, December 8 (2 pm). The show is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Gypsy of the Year (#GypsyOfTheYear) will include guest appearances by the cast of Falsettos - Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Anthony Rosenthal and Brandon Uranowitz; Robert Creighton (Cagney); Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple); Lora Lee Gayer and Megan Sikora (Holiday Inn); Nick Kroll and John Mulaney (Oh, Hello on Broadway); Jessie Mueller (Waitress); Javier Muñoz (Hamilton) and more. Judith Light, a longtime supporter of and friend to Broadway Cares, will return to lead a moment of silence for those we have lost.

This year's show will feature more than 150 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers. Shows scheduled to perform original numbers include Avenue Q, Chicago, The Color Purple, Fiddler on the Roof, Hamilton, The Lion King, On Your Feet!, Cirque du Soleil Paramour, School of Rock - The Musical, Waitress and Wicked. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo also is set to perform, representingDancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Gypsy of the Year will include a celebratory send off to Jersey Boys, commemorating the blockbuster hit musical's 11 years on Broadway before it closes January 15. The performance, written and directed by continuing original cast member Peter Gregus, will feature more than 60 of the show's stars from past and present, including Mark Ballas, Richard Blake, Charl Brown, Andy Karl, Drew Seeley and Jarrod Spector.

Gypsy of the Year is a celebration of the dedication and passion of "gypsies," or the ensemble singers and dancers in Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions. Awards will be presented to the best presentation of the two days of performances, as well as to the shows raising the most money across the six-week fundraising period.

The opening number will feature a performance by the incomparable Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie and Margo Sappington, the trio known for originating the legendary "Turkey Lurkey Time" dance in 1968's Promises, Promises. The number will be directed and choreographed by Al Blackstone, based on Michael Bennett's original choreography, with music direction by Ted Arthur.

A panel of distinguished judges will award best presentation honors at Tuesday's performance. This year's judges are James Barbour (The Phantom of the Opera), Denée Benton and Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812); Clifton Davis (Aladdin), veteran actor Harvey Evans; Todrick Hall (Kinky Boots); Lisa Lampanelli (Stuffed); Lesli Margherita (Matilda The Musical) and Mary Beth Peil (Anastasia). Also joining the panel are Lee Perlman and Peg Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by bidding on exclusive VIP packages at the 30th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.

Ultimate Broadway buff Seth Rudetsky, host of Sirius/XM's "On Broadway," returns to lead the festivities for a ninth year.

A limited number of tickets, starting at $30, are still available. They can be purchased at broadwaycares.org.

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

The 27 editions of Gypsy of the Year have raised more than $67.3 million. Last year, 54 participating shows raised an incredible $4,786,239.

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, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.

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