Chita Rivera - "All I Care About is Love" Broadway Backwards 2016
At the 2016 edition of
Broadway Backwards, a razzle-dazzle performance by
Rivera of
Kander and Ebb’s “All
I Care About is
Love” from
Chicago.
Following prolonged cheers, whistles and applause when she appeared, Rivera delivered an unforgettable take on swarmy lawyer
Billy Flynn, surrounded by a bevy of feathery beauties, many from the original
1996 Chicago revival cast:
Nili Bassman, Mindy
Cooper,
Mamie Duncan-Gibbs,
Gabriela Garcia,
Mary Ann Lamb,
Dana Moore and
Solange Sandy.
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 (#broadwaywaybackwards). 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.
The cast also included Broadway favorites
Nick Adams,
Wayne Brady,
Tituss Burgess,
Len Cariou,
Nathan Lee Graham,
Eddie Korbich,
Telly Leung,
Beth Malone,
Lesli Margherita,
Karen Mason, Kenita R.
Miller, Brad Oscar,
Krysta Rodriguez,
Tony Sheldon,
Ricky Ubeda,
Treat Williams and Broadway trio
Apollo Link.
Stage and screen star
Kathleen Turner made a special appearance to thank the audience for its support of the two organizations and to remind them of the challenges still faced daily by the
LGBT community.
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.
Broadway Backwards began as a small, grassroots concert performed at
The Center in
2006, quickly grew into an highly anticipated event presented in Broadway’s best theatres. In its 11 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $
2.4 million for Broadway Cares and The Center.
Broadway Backwards is sponsored by
The New York Times and
United Airlines.
About Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
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.
For more information, please visit Broadway Cares online at broadwaycares.org, at facebook.com/BCEFA, at twitter.com/BCEFA, at youtube.com/BCEFA and at instagram.com/BCEFA.
About The Center
Established in
1983, New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center empowers people to lead healthy, successful lives. The Center celebrates diversity and advocates for justice and opportunity. Each year, The Center welcomes more than
300,
000 visits to our building in the
West Village neighborhood of
Manhattan from people who engage in our life-changing and life-saving activities. To learn more about our work, please visit gaycenter.org.
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