VIDEO: Theatre Community Shows Its Love, Taking On Stagedoor Manor's #BroadwayForOrlando Challenge

As reported by BroadwayWorld, in response to the growing popularity of the Broadway Records recording of "What the World Needs Now Is Love," which benefits the victims of the Orlando shooting massacre, the young performers of Stagedoor Manor have filmed their own video of the 1965 Burt Bacharach and Hal David hit, which was posted on Friday morning, July 15th.

They've also initiated a challenge to raise money in the fight against hate, encouraging people to post videos of themselves singing their favorite part of "What The World Needs Now Is Love" and challenge three friends to do the same, using the hashtag #BroadwayForOrlando. For each share or challenge, Stagedoor will donate $10 to the GLBT Center of Central Florida, up to $5,000, because love is love is love.

One of the first to take up the challenge was Ben Platt, who will be following up his Washington D.C. and Off-Broadway success in the title role of DEAR EVAN HANSEN when the Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levenson musical hits Broadway this season. (click here for his video)

More have followed over the weekend, including Krysta Rodriguez, Jennifer Damiano, Laura Dreyfuss and Julia Murney.

Check out Stagedoor Manor's original video followed by responses from Broadway and beyond. And be sure to check for updates because the love is spreading.

"What the World Needs Now is Love" (music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal David) 2016 benefit recording is executive produced by Seth Rudetsky,James Wesley and Van Dean, and produced by Michael J. Moritz Jr. and Michael Croiter. Music direction by Seth Rudetsky, Steve Marzullo and Marc Shaiman, orchestrations byCameron Moncur and vocal arrangements bySeth Rudetsky. Steve Marzullo conducts the 25-piece orchestra. Single artwork by Robbie Rozelle.

The digital download of the iconic 1965 song, "What the World Needs Now is Love" is available for purchase on the record label's website at BroadwayRecords.com and iTunes. 100% of the sales (all royalties and artist fees waived) directly benefit the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. Created to honor the victims and those wounded in the Orlando shooting massacre at Pulse nightclub and aid the surrounding community, and an all-star roster of theater artists united to record the benefit single on Wednesday, June 15 at Avatar Studios in New York City.

Participating artists include: Sara Bareilles, Kristen Bell, Wayne Brady, Matthew Broderick
Andréa Burns, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Len Cariou, Paul Castree, Michael Cerveris, Joshua Colley, Lilla Crawford, Carmen Cusack, Darius de Haas, Fran Drescher,Gloria Estefan, Kimiko Glenn, Whoopi Goldberg, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Joel Grey, Sean Hayes, Nina Hennessy, James Monroe Iglehart, Julie James, Carole King, Judy Kuhn, Nathan Lane, Anika Larsen, Zachary Levi, Jose Llana, Rebecca Luker,Andrea Martin, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Janet Metz,Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Donna Murphy, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelli O'Hara, Rory O'Malley, Orfeh, Sarah Jessica Parker, Christine Pedi, Rosie Perez,Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Alice Ripley, Chita Rivera, Seth Rudetsky,Keala Settle, Kate Shindle, Jennifer Simard, Will Swenson, Rachel Tucker, Tommy Tune, Jonah Verdon, James Wesley, Juli Wesley, LiLlias White, Edith Windsor, Marissa Jaret Winokur, BD Wong and Tony Yazbeck.

Before there was "Glee" or "American Idol," there was Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp in the Catskills where casting directors came to find the next generation of stars. It's where Natalie Portman, Robert Downey Jr., Ansel Elgort, Lea Michele, Jon Cryer and many others got their start as kids. Since 1976, a new crop of campers have stepped onto these stages each summer to begin an intense, thrilling and magical introduction to professional theater. Every three weeks, 14 full-scale productions come to life. The faculty - all seasoned professionals - demand adult-size dedication and performances from the kids. Visit stagedoormanor.com.