Photo Flash: Bill Russell's ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS AND RAGING QUEENS BC/EFA Benefit Plays Birdland

Last night, February 29, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to present Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens: A Benefit Concert with Bill Russell & Friends. Scroll down for photos!

Lyricist Bill Russell led the night with personal anecdotes about the conception and inspiration of Elegies, and was joined by a star-studded cast of Broadway and Birdland favorites including Josh Young, Caroline Bowman, Karen Mason, Jaime Cepero, Sean MacLaughlin, Natalie Douglas, Nolan Doran, Eleasha Gamble, Elaine Matthews, Natalie Kropf, Jennifer Hope Wills, Kristi Shade, Michael Haas, Mike Longo,and Will Poost. The night was conceptualized by Jill Sapenoff and the intimate orchestra was led by William Waldrop.

Inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, Elegies is told from the perspective of characters afflicted with AIDS, their friends and their families. Proceeds from the evening went to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series takes place every Monday night on the historic stage of Birdland. The music room is located in the heart of Manhattan's Theater District.

Photos by Kevin Alvey