Stream of I PUT A SPELL ON YOU Raises $239,241 for Broadway Care/Equity Fights Aids

The spooktacular, fantastical stream of I Put a Spell on You, an over-the-top and cinematic homage to Hocus Pocus, raised $239,241 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS over the Halloween weekend.

A collection of highly produced music videos woven together through the story of the Sanderson Sisters breaking the internet, the stream remains available to watch at broadwaycares.org/spell. It premiered October 29, 2020. An album of the 18 pop hits performed in the show is available at broadwayrecords.com/spell and everywhere music is available.

I Put a Spell on You was created by and stars Broadway's Jay Armstrong Johnson (On the Town). It was produced under strict COVID-19 production protocols by Johnson and Danny Marin's Con Limón Productions.

The evening took viewers through a series of star-studded performances as The Sanderson Sisters, played by Johnson, Allison Robinson and Amanda Williams Ware, recruited their villainous friends in an attempt to track down children and break the internet.

The evening opened with Gavin Creel (Hello, Dolly!) playing homage to Hocus Pocus' Skeleton Band with a soulful and smooth performance of "Witchcraft." Then, led by Heath Saunders (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), we meet the Sanderson Sisters in a spoof of Hamilton's "The Schuyler Sisters," launching the trio and their diabolical friends on their plot of mischief.

The nefarious cast of characters included "RuPaul's Drag Race" favorites Bob The Drag Queen and Alexis Michelle as the Evil Queen and the Mirror on the Wall from Snow White; Nick Rashad Burroughs (Tina: the Tina Turner Musical) as Gaston with Marin ("The Real Housewives of New York") as Lefou from Beauty and the Beast; J. Harrison Ghee (Kinky Boots) as The Master from Hocus Pocus; "American Idol" star and YouTuber Todrick Hall (Kinky Boots) as the title character in Maleficent; Robyn Hurder (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) as a modern-day Lady Tremaine from Cinderella with Alanna Saunders (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) and Claire Saunders (School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play) as Cinderella's stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella; Ilda Mason (West Side Story) and Skizzo Arnedillo Arteaga (national tour of On Your Feet!) as Yzma and Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove; Julia Mattison (Godspell) as Carol Baskin and Joe Exotic from Netflix's "The Tiger King" with Drew Gehling (Waitress) as a captive and captivating tiger; Eva Noblezada (Hadestown) as Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians; and Will Swenson (Waitress) who shaved his head on camera to transform into The Joker from the DC Comics universe.

Rounding out the cast were drag favorites Kizha Carr, Marti Gould Cummings and Peachez, as well as performers Brittany Bohn, Hayden Clifton, Tyler Eisenreich, Taurean Everett, Lilli Froehlich, Allison Griffith, Natalie Hinds, Gabriel Hyman, Karma Jenkins, Erin Kei, Sarah Kleist, Kourtni Lind-Watson, Jennifer Reed, Austin Reynolds, Cassy Surianello, Michael Sylvester and Kris Ward.

The stream of I Put a Spell on You was free and donations help those across the country affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses receive healthy meals, lifesaving medication, emergency financial assistance, housing, counseling and more. The donations also support and champion organizations focused on social justice and anti-racism.

I Put a Spell on You: The Sanderson Sisters Break the Internet was rehearsed at Open Jar Studios and filmed last month in New York City and at The Mansion Inn and Home Made Theater in Saratoga Springs, NY. The digital film was directed by Johnson and Ahmad Simmons with choreography by Simmons. Jamie Kiliany, Robinson and Simmons served as associate producers. The music was produced by Will Van Dyke with music director Emily Marshall. The creative team also included costume design by DW with additional costumes by Brian Hemesath, wigs and hair by DW, Bobbie Cliffton Zlotnik and Katie Beatty, lighting design by Rocky Noel, makeup led by Alcone Company's Kyle Krueger with additional makeup by Christina Vida, J Guerra and Ryan Jackson, line production by Kampfire Films' Katie Rosin , props by Alec Addalia and dancer casting by Jason Styres, CSA. Ling Mai, Juan Roque and Roberto Araujo served as directors of photography. Animation and editing of "Evil Queen" provided by Nathan Love Productions . Catering provided by Chef Rick Bieber, Grady Keefe, La Palapa, Promobile Kitchen and Melissa Tung.