Behind the Scenes Spring 2014

gypsy of the year hirschfeld free clinic Affordable health care

The Actors Fund National Food Grants $1.5 million to 117 providers

Making a difference 51 shows raise $4.3 million

Sharing Resources winter burlesque BROADWAY backwards

legacy & leadership b r o a d way c a r e s . o r g

who’s who [ ] A T BROADWAY CARES

Behind the Scenes is published by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS 165 West 46th Street, Suite 1300 New York, NY 10036 212.840.0770 info@broadwaycares.org broadwaycares.org Tom Viola, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Michael Graziano, PRODUCING DIRECTOR Larry Cook, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Danny Whitman, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

AND DEVELOPMENT

BC/EFA OFFICERS Paul Libin, PRESIDENT Ira Mont, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Thomas Schumacher, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Nina Lannan, THIRD VICE PRESIDENT Sherry Cohen, FOURTH VICE PRESIDENT Philip Birsh, TREASURER Judith Rice, SECRETARY BC/EFA BOARD OF TRUSTEES Cornelius Baker John Barnes Scott Barnes Joseph Benincasa Chris Boneau Bob Boyett Barry Brown Kate Burton Robert Callely Kathleen Chalfant Alan Cumming Gavin Darraugh Michael David B. Merle Debuskey Maria Di Dia Paul DiDonato Sam Ellis Richard Frankel Roy Harris Richard Hester Craig Jacobs Richard Jay-Alexander Cherry Jones Nathan Lane

Jay Laudato Margo Lion Joe Machota Nancy Mahon Mary McColl Kevin McCollum Michael McElroy Terrence McNally Jerry Mitchell Bernadette Peters Chita Rivera Jordan Roth Nick Scandalios Robert Score Marian Seldes Philip J. Smith Charlotte St. Martin David Stone Stuart Thompson Tim Tompkins Tom Viola (ex-officio) Robert E. Wankel Nick Wyman

Behind the Scenes Tom Viola, Danny Whitman, Lane Beauchamp, EDITORS Contributors Peter Borzotta, Mo Brady, Sarah Cardillo, Frank Conway, Chris Kenney, Joe Norton, Anna Troiano, Ryan Walls Photographers Jay Brady, Kevin Thomas Garcia, Daniel T. Gramkee, Kelly Kline Photography/ Heisman Trophy Trust, Joy Nelson, Tyrone Rasheed, Daniel Roberts, Steve J. Sherman, Monica Simoes

[ ] Executive Director from the

Dear Friends: I have the opportunity every day to witness first-hand the extraordinary generosity of our family of donors and supporters, who share their time, talent and financial resources to improve the lives of folks who do not share in the access to resources and good fortune that we do. I also am privileged to see the positive impact that that generosity has on men, women and children across the country who are looking simply for a hand to reach out and help them, to lift them up in way that offers a fair chance to restore hope in their lives so they, in turn, can be of assistance to another.

While politicians spend their time bickering, finger pointing and making short-sighted decisions, there are hundreds of individuals across the country making a difference every day in their communities of neighbors, family and friends.

They are at food banks and pantries determined to provide men, women and children with nutritious meals as federal food programs suffer devastating cutbacks. Without proper nutrition, medication for any disease is less effective. A decent meal can be the first line of defense on the road back to health and recovery.

They are at The Actors Fund, where a dedicated band of social workers, doctors and expert counselors are helping advise and guide those in the entertainment industry through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act – the first chance for many to have uninterrupted, long-term health insurance.

In this issue of Behind the Scenes, you’ll learn about the work of those heroes on the front lines. You’ll also revisit the spectacular events and other fundraising efforts that make our grants for that work possible: another record-breaking Gypsy of the Year; the ninth stellar edition of Broadway Backwards; Bucks County Cabaret; Winter Burlseque, the kick-off of another scintillating season of Broadway Bares; and the incredible generosity of our dear pal Debra Monk, who threw a big ol’ party for Broadway Cares to celebrate her 65th birthday.

Last year, with your help, BC/EFA awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to The Actors Fund and more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations. Because of your incredibly generous support, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has already awarded $5.8 million in grants this year.

More than $1.56 million was awarded in January to 117 food pantries, congregate meal and meal delivery programs in 36 states and Washington, DC. A second grant round in March awarded $765,000 to 30 nationally recognized AIDS service and advocacy organizations.

Our third and final grant round of the year occurs in June.

More than $3.6 million has been awarded to The Actors Fund to date to ensure that their good work continues with the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, the Actors Fund Work Program, The Dancers’ Resource and more.

No matter your relationship to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, thank you for being a part of our family of donors. You have our deepest gratitude. It is the passion and dedication of each of you that helps us, together, continue to make a difference.

Sincerely,

broadwaycares.org 3 [behind the] scenes

Tom Viola Executive Director

BC/EFA 2013 Grant-Making “Where Does All That Money Go???”

Support for THE ACTORS FUND HIV/AIDS INITIATIVE

$ 2,100,000

PHYLLIS NEWMAN WOMEN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE

$

652,500

AL HIRSCHFELD FREE HEALTH CLINIC

$

600,000

ACTORS FUND WORK PROGRAM

$

400,000

THE DANCERS’ RESOURCE

$

200,000

Stage ManagerS’ Project

$

80,000

EMERGENCY GRANT – Hurricane Sandy Relief

$

200,000

Miscellaneous

Annual Gala, Memorial Donations, Benefit Support, etc.

$

67,500

THE ACTORS FUND

$ 4,300,000

NATIONAL GRANTS

FOOD SERVICE and MEAL DELIVERY PROGRAMS

121 Organizations in 34 States

$ 1,505,500

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

AIDS SERVICE and ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

39 Agencies

$

LOCAL AIDS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

307 Organizations in 48 States, Washington DC and Puerto Rico

Direct Services and Case Management, Supportive Housing Programs,

Emergency Financial Assistance, Harm Reduction Programs,

Quality of Life Services THEATRE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

and SPECIAL GRANTS (Shared fundraising efforts)

772,500

$ 1,986,500

$ 1,321,746

HURRICANE SANDY GRANTS

American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Community FoodBank of New Jersey

and other grants and benefit support

$

240,000

PHYSICIAN VOLUNTEERS FOR THE ARTS Broadway Flu Shot Initiative

$

55,000

NATIONAL GRANTS

$ 5,881,246

INTERNATIONAL GRANTS South Africa / THE LION KING

22 AIDS Service Organizations

$

263,570

TheatreMAD, London THE ACTORS’ FUND of CANADA

$ $

26,890 47,000

INTERNATIONAL GRANTS SUBTOTAL SUBTOTAL SUBTOTAL

the ACTORS FUND NATIONAL Grants INTERNATIONAL Grants

2013 BC/EFA GRANT-MAKING TOTAL broadwaycares.org

$ 337,460 $ 4,300,000 $ 5,881,246 $ 337,460

$ 10,518,706

[Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids]

MISSION STATEMENT Approved by the BC/EFA Board of Trustees – May 27, 2010

• To mobilize the unique abilities within the entertainment industry to mitigate the suffering of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS; • To ensure direct support specifically through social services and programs of the Actors Fund to all individuals in the entertainment industry affected by critical health issues, including but not limited to HIV/AIDS; • To support organizations across the country which provide treatment or services for people specifically affected by HIV/AIDS and their families;

[table of ]

CONTENTS

3 Where Does All That Money Go? 5 25th Annual Gypsy of the Year 8 The Actors Fund 11 Every Dollar Makes a Difference 12 National Food Grants 14 Sharing Resources 15 National Tours Present 16 Making A Difference 18 Bucks County Cabaret 19 Broadway Bares: Winter Burlesque 20 Debra Monk Birthday Bash 21 Broadway Backwards 22 Beyond the Footlights 24 Classical Action 25 Dancers Responding to AIDS 26 Education & Outreach 27 Angels Circle 30 Legacy & Leadership

• To promote and encourage public support for national and international programs and services which benefit people with HIV/AIDS; • To increase public awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS through the creation and dissemination of educational materials; • To support efforts by the entertainment industry to address other critical health issues or respond to an emergency, in each case as approved by the Board of Trustees; • To support efforts by the entertainment industry in other charitable or educational endeavors, in each case as approved by the Board of Trustees.

broadwaycares.org

A HISTORY OF BC/EFA’s grant-making

National &

The Actors Fund Int’l Grants 1987–1992 Equity Fights AIDS $ 2,775,250 1988–May 1992 Broadway Cares $ 1,067,000

BC/EFA Contributions 5/92–12/92 $ 634,000 $ 771,780 1993 $ 1,654,000 $ 1,184,119 1994 $ 1,758,000 $ 676,404 1995 $ 1,791,000 $ 707,916 1996 $ 2,010,000 $ 1,400,549 1997 $ 2,247,500 $ 1,342,200 1998 $ 2,471,000 $ 1,711,819 1999 $ 2,700,000 $ 3,039,841 2000 $ 2,955,336 $ 3,033,566 2001 $ 2,829,500 $ 3,238,765 2002 $ 2,732,000 $ 2,689,679 2003 $ 3,022,500 $ 3,115,969 2004 $ 3,360,500 $ 4,437,338 2005 $ 3,516,500 $ 4,469,798 2006 $ 3,517,500 $ 4,518,364 2007 $ 3,671,500 $ 5,152,546 2008 $ 4,302,000 $ 5,737,298 2009 $ 3,400,000 $ 4,492,489 2010 $ 4,160,000 $ 5,824,988 2011 $ 4,014,500 $ 5,305,700 2012 $ 4,625,000 $ 6,218,796 2013 $ 4,300,000 $ 6,218,706 Total Support 1988–2012

$ 68,447586

$ 76,355,627

BC/EFA Grant-Making Total 1988–2013 5 [behind the] scenes

Total $ 2,775,250 $ 1,067,000 $ 1,405,780 $ 2,838,119 $ 2,434,404 $ 2,498,916 $ 3,410,549 $ 3,589,700 $ 4,182,819 $ 5,739,841 $ 5,988,902 $ 6,068,265 $ 5,421,676 $ 6,138,469 $ 7,797,838 $ 7,986,298 $ 8,035,864 $ 8,824,046 $ 10,039,298 $ 7,892,489 $ 9,984,988 $ 9,320,200 $ 10,856,755 $ 10,518,706 $144,803,213

25th annual Gypsy of the year

Performances Honor Gypsies’ Tireless Fundraising Efforts

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rom humorous solo skits to thrilling original dances, the 25th anniversary of Gypsy of the Year celebrated past and present gypsies with verve, vigor and heartfelt appreciation for those who give it their all eight shows a week.

St. James Theatre just days after they opened the hit revival Gypsy.

Daly and Hadary returned in 2013 as special guest hosts, joining noted Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky, who hosted his sixth consecutive Gypsy of the Year.

More than 250 gypsies, the most talented singers and dancers in the ensembles of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, performed dances, songs and skits on December 9 and 10. The grand total of $4,343,234 was announced during the second day’s performance by surprise guest Daniel Craig, who joined Cherry Jones, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart to share the welcome news. The amazing total was raised by 51 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies during six weeks of extraordinary fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The show’s energetic opening number featured Klea Blackhurst as Ethel Merman comparing gypsies of her day with 18 highkicking, modern-day gypsies resembling Newsies, or as Merman repeatedly called them “newsboys.” The number was directed and choreographed by Devanand Janki and Robert Tatad with lyrics and script by Rudetsky and arrangements and music direction by Ben Cohn.

This year’s top fundraiser was Kinky Boots, which raised $377,301.

The company of The Lion King took honors for the best onstage presentation for a captivating dance of couples who skillfully integrated ropes to spin, twirl and jump.

The first Gypsy of the Year was hosted in 1989 by Tyne Daly and Jonathan Hadary, who welcomed the show onto their stage at the

The 25th Annual Gypsy of the Year celebrated three memorable numbers from past incarnations. An intimate and physically demanding dance originally presented in 1995 by Victor/Victoria was beautifully recreated by Kristine Bendul and Waldemar Quiñones-Villanueva. Also in 1995, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying “borrowed” the Victor/Victoria number’s choreography for their own comical, uncoordinated twist. William Ryall returned to recreate the number to perfection with Broadway favorite Jennifer Cody. And from the Beauty and the Beast cast, John Salvatore performed an encore of his amusing 2002 solo, a [behind the] scenes 6

Fundraising Awards Broadway Musicals Top Fundraiser First Runner-up Second Runner-up Third Runner-up (tie)

Kinky Boots............................. $377,301 Wicked.................................... $273,940 The Book of Mormon............. $209,943 Newsies.................................... $125,469 The Phantom of the Opera.... $125,373

National Touring Shows Top Fundraiser First Runner-up Second Runner-up Third Runner-up

Wicked-Munchkinland................. $333,086 The Book of Mormon-Latter Day... $314,133 The Book of Mormon-Jumamosi.... $296,279 Wicked-Emerald City................... $182,926

Broadway Plays Top Fundraiser First Runner-up

The Glass Menagerie...................... $161,218 Twelfth Night/Richard III.............. $116,653

Off-Broadway Top Fundraiser First Runner-up

Avenue Q......................................... $ 27,066 Peter and the Starcatcher............... $ 23,360

51 Companies Raised $4,343,234

PHOTOS & VIDEO

broadwaycares.org/gypsy2013

Bucket Brigade Reports for Duty

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very night they fanned out across the theatre district, quietly taking their places in gilded lobbies and in the back of darkened theatres just before shows ended. A team of 172 dedicated volunteers and tireless BC/EFA staffers joined company members from participating shows to help ensure a successful Gypsy of the Year fundraising season.

After a spirited appeal made by cast members onstage during the curtain call, the volunteers held the now iconic BC/EFA red buckets. They collected donations and sold autographed show posters and Playbills to generous and enthusiastic audience members at 25 of the Broadway and Off-Broadway shows collecting. Over the six weeks of appeals, volunteers filled 2,887 shifts at 907 appeals. Our sincere thanks to our dedicated volunteers: BC/EFA’s famed Bucket Brigade. n [behind the] scenes 8

Hirschfeld free Health clinic of the actors fund

Safety Net Catches Health Care Reform Concerns

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s politicians bicker about the clouds that linger over ongoing health care reform, one beacon of light continues to shine brightly on New York City’s West 57th Street.

The Actors Fund’s Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, supported again last year with a $600,000 grant from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, remains on the front lines, addressing the immediate needs of those in the entertainment industry who are uninsured or underinsured.

“Even for people who have their insurance through the Affordable Care Act or who may be dealing with a high deductible, the clinic is there for them,” said Barbara Davis, chief operating officer of The Actors Fund. “The clinic is still really important to people right now. If you need to be seen by a physician, don’t be shy or hold back, come see the doctor.”

The clinic opened its doors in 2004 with a $500,000 grant from Broadway Cares. Since then, BC/EFA has provided more than $6.76 million in support of the clinic and remains its largest funder.

“We’re always proud to stand with our friends in the theatre community by championing The Actors Fund’s myriad lifesaving and life-affirming programs and services not the least of which is the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic,” said BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola.

In addition to the Hirschfeld Clinic, The Actors Fund provides a safety net of social service programs that includes the HIV/AIDS Initiative and the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative. Thanks to the generosity of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supporters, BC/ EFA awarded $4.3 million last year to The Actors Fund.

Broadway Cares remains the single largest funder of The Actors Fund programs.

A recent Actors Fund survey found that more than 43 percent of individuals working in the visual and performing arts lack health insurance coverage – more than double the national uninsured rate. That underscores the need for the Hirschfeld Clinic and, for the entertainment community, brings a heightened sense of urgency to the roll out of the Affordable Care Act.

“

L ook at what happens when you’re working with a theatre company and one of the members gets sick. It can spread quickly through the whole company. This is still about preventing illness as much as possible and, when it does happen, addressing it as quickly as possible.”

Barbara Davis, chief operating officer of The Actors Fund

9 [behind the] scenes

nd “In addition to the day-to-day support of thousands in the industry, The Actors Fund has ensured that the daunting process of understanding the Affordable Care Act and enrolling in coverage can be manageable, supported and relatively stress-free,” Viola said. “They have also stepped up in a leadership capacity among health and social service organizations, setting the bar high on how to meet the needs of a diverse constituency in a complicated and polarizing political climate.”

For some, implementation of the Affordable Care Act means learning a new, sometimes confusing, language that includes talk of health care exchanges, subsidies and out-of-pocket maximums. Fortunately, in addition to the care provided by the Hirschfeld Clinic, The Actors Fund has a built-in translation service that’s been working full-steam for years to connect artists, craftspeople and entertainment industry workers to health insurance.

The fund’s Artists Health Insurance Resource Center, also known as AHIRC, was started in 1998 with the singular mission to insure every artist in the United States. Now that that goal is closer to reality, AHIRC is positioned to help the industry understand the Affordable Care Act, its opportunities and its implications.

“For the people we serve, it’s still about making sure they’re getting the care they need,” Davis said. “Look at what happens when you’re working with a theatre company and one of the members gets sick. It can spread quickly through the whole company. This is still about preventing illness as much as possible and, when it does happen, addressing it as quickly as possible.”

This spring, Broadway Cares made a special $250,000 grant to The Actors Fund to support AHIRC and their efforts to connect members of the industry to the new insurance exchanges and plans.

At its core, the Affordable Care Act increases access to health insurance for every American, requires free preventative care and prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Among the more well-received developments of the Affordable Care Act is the requirement that all new plans cover certain preventative services for free – services that those in the performing arts often bypassed. These include certain breast, colon and cervical cancer screenings; blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol tests; vaccines, immunizations and flu shots; and HIV and STD testing.

And while the benefits are expansive, there has been some sticker shock at the initial costs. Coverage can set an actor or dancer back $200 or more per month with deductibles as high as $3,000. But any single person who earns less than $46,000 is eligible for subsidies to help reduce the monthly cost.

“Recently we worked with a woman who had been on the same plan for a really long time and was paying $800 a month,” Marinaro said. “Her income was $30,000 a year, so that was a huge chunk of change for insurance. We were able to find her a really, really nice plan for $300 a month with the subsidy, saving her $500 a month.”

Even once someone gets insurance – whether it’s through an exchange or their employer, there’s still a lot to understand, which is where The Actors Fund again helps out.

“We’re getting a lot of people who simply don’t know how to use their insurance,” said James Brown, AHIRC’s director of health services, national. “We’re in the process of creating a comprehensive seminar on fully understanding your insurance benefits – how to file a claim, make an appeal, all the processes that are in place to truly use your health insurance to its full advantage.”

In the meantime, the Hirschfeld Clinic stands ready to serve the uninsured and underinsured. “They’re providing that primary care that’s so important,” Brown said. “Without it, that’s often how things lead to worse problems. It’s not just prevention, it’s early diagnosis. The clinic really is the doctor’s office for the industry.” n

With in-person counseling in New York and Los Angeles, national telephone support and workshops throughout the country, AHIRC continues to work to reduce the number of uninsured artists and expand access to quality, affordable health care.

Renata Marinaro, AHIRC’s director of health services for the eastern region, is one of those tireless Actors Fund staffers helping to educate the industry. She even attended the mega South by Southwest festival in March, offering health insurance counseling to attendees with a special effort to reach out to uninsured musicians.

LEARN MORE

ahirc.org [behind the] scenes 10

The actors fund BC/EFA Support Surpasses $4.3 Million in 2013

I

More Than $68 Million Awarded Since 1988

n 2013, BC/EFA awarded more than $4.3 million to The Actors Fund. Through this unique partnership, BC/EFA touches the lives of entertainment professionals coping with a variety of health issues, crises and challenges through a safety net of vital programs and services.

BC/EFA funds the social service programs of The Actors Fund: the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, the Actors Fund Work Program, The Dancers’ Resource, the Stage Managers’ Project and three supportive housing residences.

In 2013, The Actors Fund helped more than 17,000 entertainment industry professionals, stabilizing the lives of 6,267 people during times of crisis. Throughout the year, 3,291 people received $2,693,070 in emergency financial assistance from The Actors Fund for essential needs such as rent, health insurance payments and living expenses.

HIV/AIDS Initiative The HIV/AIDS Initiative works with men and women in the entertainment industry to create confidential, holistic plans and support systems that will meet each person’s emotional, medical and financial needs. As its primary funder, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS ensures the program can provide a full spectrum of essential services.

These include health insurance payments and rent, case management, advocacy, counseling and support groups for people with HIV/AIDS, their partners, families and caregivers. Since its inception in 1988, the HIV/AIDS Initiative has received more than $44 million from Broadway Cares.

“At a time of fragile health, without the HIV/AIDS Initiative I might have slipped through the cracks.

They shepherded me through many dark nights of the soul.”

Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative Established in 1996, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative provides a safety net for women in the entertainment industry coping with critical health concerns. The initiative dedicates resources solely to address the needs of women, including breast, cervical and ovarian cancers, domestic violence, chemical dependency and mental health issues, as well as providing services and financial assistance to women without health insurance. Since 1996, BC/EFA has provided more than $7 million to the initiative and remains the program’s largest funder.

“Thank you for your help during a very scary time in my life, meeting with me and helping me manage my situation.

I am so grateful for the immediate care, kindness and attention of the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative.”

Actors Fund Work Program A comprehensive employment and training program, the Actors Fund Work Program assists entertainment industry professionals in finding sideline work and new careers. In addition the AIDS Training and Education Program (ATEP) is designed to assist HIV/AIDS Initiative clients who are ready to explore their options for transitioning to work, school, volunteering or other meaningful activity. Since 1998, BC/EFA has provided more than $3.6 million to the Actors Fund Work Program.

“The Actors Fund Work Program helps instill confidence. They saw something in me I didn’t see in myself.

They encouraged me and gave me the opportunity to try teaching, turning what was only a possibility into a reality.”

The Dancers’ Resource Launched in 2007 with a $150,000 grant from BC/EFA, The Dancers’ Resource was created in response to the unique situations dancers face due to the physically demanding nature of their work. The program creates a support system that helps those dealing with injuries, and provides referrals for health care and health insurance, information and advocacy with Workers Compensation and Disability Insurance and emergency financial assistance. BC/EFA has provided more than $1.2 million to The Dancers’ Resource.

“The Dancers’ Resource addressed the physical pain, the financial stress and the emotional depression of not being able to do what you love.”

LEARN MORE 11 [behind the] scenes

actorsfund.org

broadwaycares.org [behind the] scenes 12

conversation between two dancers cleverly written to integrate dance moves.

talented dancers showed the emotional turmoil of putting “Real Life on Pause.”

New Broadway sensation After Midnight blended jazz, dance and spoken word to honor Cotton Club performers of the past “too brown for Broadway but too great to be forgotten.”

Off-Broadway’s Avenue Q paid homage in their own comedic and touching way to 1990’s Grand Hotel. And veteran actor Stephen Fry, from the extended run of two Shakespeare plays in repertoire, Twelfth Night and Richard III, performed a witty retelling of the story of Dracula.

Celebrity presenters included Samuel Barnett, Stephen DeRosa, Rick Holmes, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lindsay Mendez, Zachary Quinto, Mark Rylance and Brian J. Smith.

Other shows presenting included Broadway’s Chicago, First Date, Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia!, Once, Pippin and Spider-Man:Turn Off the Dark, as well as Off-Broadway’s Avenue Q and Disaster!.

In a number directed and choreographed by Shea Sullivan honoring all the national tours that collect for Broadway Cares, 12 7 [behind the] scenes

This year’s presentation judges were Graciela Daniele, Mary Bridget Davies, Brandon Victor Dixon, Zachary Levi, Rebecca Luker, Hugh Panaro, Roger Rees and Krysta Rodriguez. Also joining the panel were Eric Forst and Peg Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by being high bidders on exclusive VIP packages at the 27th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.

This year’s show was directed by Kristin Newhouse with Valerie Lau-Kee Lai serving as production stage manager leading a team of 10 expert stage managers. Gypsy of the Year is sponsored by The New York Times and United Airlines. n

2014 National Food grants

Federal Cuts Increase Need for Food Program Support

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hey offer programs as diverse as their locations.

An HIV/AIDS center in Phoenix sponsors a “lunch and learn” program that combines a nutritious meal with healthy doses of conversation and information about managing medications and dealing with stress. On Fridays, an all-volunteer organization in Sebastian, FL, helps fill atrisk students’ backpacks with food to get them through the weekends when they might otherwise do without. A food bank in Forestville, CA, provides a “therapeutic garden program” with organic vegetables and fruit to emphasize healthy eating and encourage self-sustenance.

These three organizations joined 114 other food pantries, congregate meal and meal delivery programs in 36 states and Washington, DC, in receiving a record $1,565,000 in grants this year from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The grants were awarded in January as part of the first of BC/EFA’s three annual grant rounds.

This year’s food grants carry even more importance after recent cutbacks in federal government support for social services, including a $5 billion cut to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that’s often referred to as “food stamps.”

“These food service grants will reach hundreds of thousands of men, women and children across the country facing serious challenges living with AIDS and other serious illness in the midst of those devastating cutbacks,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares. “While we can never make up for these remarkably short-sighted decisions in Washington, our generous supporters are making a difference in the lives of folks who do not share in good fortune.”

13 [behind the] scenes

The recently passed farm bill will result in about 850,000 low-income households losing an average of $90 in monthly benefits, according to Feeding America, a national coalition of food banks. That reduction in benefits follows last fall’s $11 billion cut. For a family of four, that loss was about $36 in benefits, or 23 meals per month.

Since 2006, the number of Americans receiving food aid from pantries and similar services has risen almost 50 percent, according to Feeding America.

“It’s a very tumultuous time for all of our clients particularly those living with HIV/AIDS,” said Karen Pearl, president and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver in New York City. “For people living with illness, just getting food so they’re not hungry is only a part of the battle. Food is medicine. So they need to have the right food, the right nutrition to manage their illness. It’s an essential part of their medical care.”

Kevin Winge, executive director of Project Open Hand in San

“

or people living with illness, just getting food so they’re not hungry is F only a part of the battle. Food is medicine. So they need to have the right food, the right nutrition to manage their illness. It’s an essential part of their medical care.

Karen Pearl, president and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver

Francisco, told Forbes earlier this year: “The social safety net in this country has gotten so low that by the time you hit the net, you really hit the ground. Those who are homebound and alone don’t know where their next meal will come from.”

Broadway Cares provided $35,000 grants this year to both God’s Love We Deliver and Project Open Hand.

“We serve 76 percent more meals today than just seven years ago,” Pearl said. “Food security needs to be part and parcel of all the health care reform. We have lots of evidence and research that shows that good food and nutrition lowers health care costs and contributes to better overall health care. If we can save the cost of one night in the hospital for someone, we can feed them for more than half a year.”

The need certainly isn’t limited to America’s urban centers.

Food insecurity and hunger knows no geographic boundaries.

From Spokane AIDS Network in Washington to Hot Springs AIDS Resource Center in rural Arkansas to House of Mercy in Belmont, NC, the generosity of Broadway Cares’ donors ensures

that grocery orders get filled, healthy meals get delivered and the most vulnerable among us receive basic food necessities.

“Without proper nutrition, medication for any disease is less effective,” Viola said. “And effective HIV medication is an essential component of prevention and the spread of the virus.

A decent meal can be the first line of defense, the road back to health and recovery.”

The food grants round is the first of three annual grantmaking rounds for Broadway Cares. In March, the Nationally Recognized Service and Public Policy grant round awarded $765,000 to 30 organizations. In June, the final round of grants for the year will be awarded, covering emergency assistance programs, direct services, substance abuse and harm reduction services, and quality of life programs. Since 1988, more than $76 million has been distributed by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS through its National Grants Program. n

STATE

BY STATE

broadwaycares.org/grantsbystate

The Overwhelming Increase of Hunger in America

Courtesy of Feeding America

[behind the] scenes 14

Sharing resources BC/EFA Extends Support to Those Who Help Others

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any actors who help make our fundraising efforts a success have existing, deep connections with other charitable organizations.

In appreciation of their enthusiastic efforts, BC/EFA often makes a contribution to those organizations in honor of those company members.

op music icon Cyndi Lauper, the Tony-winning lyricist and composer of Broadway’s Kinky Boots, formed the True Colors Fund in 2008 to combat the disproportionate homelessness of LGBT youths in the United

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States. Broadway Cares made a donation of $75,000 to the True Colors Fund in honor of Lauper and the extraordinary fundraising efforts by the company of Kinky Boots.

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I

wo-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz turned heartache into hope by forming the Angel Band Project in 2009. The initiative, created after the tragic death of his sister, Teresa, promotes healing, raises awareness and creates positive social change for survivors of sexual violence. Broadway Cares made a special donation of $5,000 to the project in honor of Butz, his sister and the company of Broadway’s Big Fish.

15 [behind the] scenes

n honor of the acclaimed British companies of Broadway’s Twelfth Night and Richard III, who enthusiastically helped fundraise during Gypsy of the Year, Broadway Cares made a donation of $25,000 to the Make a Difference Trust in the UK. Like BC/EFA in the US, the MAD Trust in Britain brings together the British entertainment community and its audiences to raise funds to support people living with HIV and AIDS, and those in the entertainment industry facing hardship as a result of a long-term medical condition.

National Tours Present

Making a Difference for Local AIDS Service Providers

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rom Atlanta to Spokane, Rochester to Las Vegas, witches and nuns and phantoms and Mormons step up for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and local organizations by stepping out of character.

Actors, musicians, stage managers and crew members in touring productions across North America are making a difference not only from audience appeals, auctions and signed poster sales in their theatres, but also with late-night cabaret performances that raise money for Broadway Cares and local AIDS service organizations in the cities they play on the road.

Wherever the company of the Wicked Munchkinland tour presents Witches Night Off, they raise the roof for local theatre fans with highenergy, 13-person production numbers. They also see first-hand the positive impact they’re making in local communities.

“We always partner with one of the AIDS service organizations supported by Broadway Cares through its annual National Grants Program,” said Justin Wirick, a member of the Munchkinland ensemble who coordinates most of the benefits with cast mate Ryan Jackson. “We have felt so blessed to be able to tour their facilities while on the road because it puts faces to the great work being done for our audiences, their families, friends and neighbors in local communities. Visiting the food kitchens and clinics allows us to see how the money we raise is put to work for so many that desperately need BC/EFA’s help.”

Wirick’s counterparts on the Wicked Emerald City tour often theme their special performances, recently creating The Wicked Rocky Horror Show to benefit Golden Rainbow in Las Vegas and A Wicked Night Before Christmas, helping Chicago House.

“In addition to the tremendous work and dedication of those on the national tours, these impressive endeavors could not be accomplished without the active participation of the local beneficiary organizations,” BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola said. “Their assistance with everything from site logistics to promotion is so valuable in creating a special night in each one of these cities. The tours bring the show. The local service provider’s staff finds the

venue. Their major donors join local theatre fans in selling the tickets and filling the house. And we all share the proceeds.”

Other AIDS and family service organizations that have benefited from the generosity of national tours include AIDS Partnership Michigan in Detroit, Joining Hearts and Open Hand in Atlanta, Nashville Cares, San Antonio AIDS Foundation and more.

“It’s a wonderful way that the national tours can augment the grants from BC/EFA’s National Grants Program,” Viola said. “The unexpected addition of $5,000 to $10,000 can make a welcome difference in filling a food pantry’s shelves, topping the gas tanks of a stretched transportation program or creating additional appointment times at a health clinic.”

At the same time, the cabarets and special concerts allow the touring shows’ casts a welcome additional creative outlet. “It’s great opportunity to collaborate with other company members and explore material beyond what we’re performing eight times a week,” said Micki Weiner, a member of the corps de ballet of The Phantom of the Opera national tour. “It allows company members to showcase talents and skill sets that might not otherwise be featured.”

Weiner and cast mate Katie McCreary recently worked with their company to produce Phantom Unmasked in Rochester, NY, which included comedy skits, contemporary dance, original music and acoustic versions of pop songs.

Other tours that have squeezed in time to do benefits include The Book of Mormon’s Jumamosi and Latter Day tours, Evita, Jersey Boys, Disney’s The Lion King and Once.

Ben Lipitz, who plays Pumbaa on The Lion King national tour and has helped produce their The Lion Sings Tonight cabarets in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Atlanta and elsewhere, said the challenge of creating something new is exhilarating: “After producing these benefits with my cast for the past 11 years – 50 of them so far – I can say we feel energized and ready for what comes next. This is our way of not only honoring and remembering those we’ve lost, but making a promise to those who are in need.” n [behind the] scenes 16

fall audience appeals

51 Broadway, Off-Bro

After Midnight ANNIE BETRAYAL BIG FISH THE BOOK OF MORMON CHICAGO CINDERELLA FIRST DATE THE GLASS MENAGERIE JERSEY BOYS KINKY BOOTS THE LION KING MAMMA MIA! MATILDA THE MUSICAL AVENUE Q BAD JEWS BUYER AND CELLAR DISASTER!

How

a dollar makes

a difference!

HOW TO BE A NEW YORKER THE BOOK OF MORMON · JUMAMOSI TOUR

If every patron gave

$

1

THE BOOK OF MORMON · LAtTER DAY TOUR CHICAGO · TOUR EVITA · TOUR FLASHDANCE · TOUR 1 Audience Appeal = $1,774

JERSEY BOYS · second NATIONAL tour

8 Appeals per week = $14,192

6 weeks of app

Off-Broadway and national touring companies raised $4,343,234 for BC/EFA MOTOWN THE MUSICAL A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN NEWSIES ONCE The PHANTOM OF THE OPERA PIPPIN ROCK OF AGES ROMEO AND JULIET The SNOW GEESE SPIDER-MAN: Turn off the dark TWELFTH NIGHT / RICHARD Iii WAITING FOR GODOT / NO MAN’S LAND wiCKED THE WINSLOW BOY THE LANDING Natasha, Pierre and...

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER ROMEO AND JULIET · CLASSIC STAGE THE LION KING · GAZELLE COMPANY MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET · TOUR ONCE · TOUR PETER AND THE STARCATCHER · TOUR 51 shows collecting = $4,343,234

WAR HORSE · TOUR WE WILL ROCK YOU · TOUR WICKED · EMERALD CITY tour

eeks of appeals = $85,161

WICKED · munchkinland tour

featuring AlAn Cumming

Bucks county cabaret

Saturday, October 19, 2013 produced by and benefiting BroAdwAy CAres/equity Fights Aids 7 Pm PerFormAnCe at Bucks County Playhouse 70 South Main Street New Hope, PA

#buckscountycabaret BroAdwAyCAres.org 212.840.0770. ext 268

Alan Cumming Captivates Sold-out Bucks County Audience

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ony Award winner Alan Cumming proudly channeled an eclectic mix of the best women of music – from Shirley Bassey to Kristin Chenoweth, from Elaine Stritch to Lady Gaga – and charmed a standing-room-only audience at Bucks County Cabaret on October 19.

Taking center stage at the historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA, Cumming peppered the evening with captivating inside-show-business stories about Liza Minnelli and Ann Miller, fascinating, behind-the-scenes tales of his years on stage and screen, and his successful quest to become a naturalized American citizen.

“Good evening, New Hope, this is Scotland calling,” Cumming joked after his opening numbers. “It’s very lovely to be here tonight at Bucks County Playhouse and to be celebrating Broadway Cares, raising money for such an important cause that is helping so many people who need it most.”

Cumming’s wildly entertaining performance raised $165,750.

“The community in Bucks County and the surrounding area enthusiastically showed their love for Alan Cumming and again underscored their long-time commitment to helping and compassion for those affected by HIV/AIDS,” Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, said.

“We are honored to produce and be the beneficiary of Bucks County Cabaret for the second year in a row.”

tunes by Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry; “Wig in a Box” from the Off-Broadway cult hit Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which also made its Broadway debut this spring starring Neil Patrick Harris; Cumming’s rendition of “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company; a witty ode to “Taylor the Latte Boy;” and a biting satire of politically charged zealots.

Cumming was accompanied by music director Lance Horne on piano and Eleanor Norton on cello.

Among the grants Broadway Cares awarded to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide, 21 went to organizations in Pennsylvania including Bucks County-based F.A.C.T. – Fighting AIDS Continuously Together.

Following the performance, BC/EFA friend, Broadway actor and professional auctioneer Tasha Lawrence led a spirited live auction that included VIP experiences at Broadway’s Kinky Boots, The Glass Menagerie, Waiting for Godot and No Man’s Land, and a special evening out-on-the-town with Cumming as your guide.

Bucks County Cabaret was sponsored by DIRECTV, The New York Times, Showtime Networks and United Airlines, with special thanks to the Bucks County Cabaret committee, Bridge Street Foundation, Kevin and Sherri Daugherty, and the staff and crew of Bucks County Playhouse. n

Cumming won a Tony Award for his Broadway debut as the Emcee in Cabaret, a role he reprised this spring in Roundabout Theatre Company’s much-anticipated revival of the classic musical. In a salute to the iconic show, Cumming performed his version of “Mein Herr,” which is usually performed by the character Sally Bowles.

Cumming’s wide-ranging song list also included a mash-up of 19 [behind the] scenes

PHOTOS

broadwaycares.org/buckscountycabaret2013 19

irl

Calendar G

g & Benefitin Produced by TY FIGHTS AIDS /EQUI

BROAD WAY

CARES

Directed by

MICHA EL LEE

Executive

SCOTT

Producer

PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN: REX BONOMELLI; HAIR AND MAKEUP: MICHAEL SERAPIGLIA; MODEL: BENJAMIN HOREN

JERRY MITCH

ELL

Winter Burlesque: calendar girl

Sunday, January 26, 2014 8 P M & 1 0 P M • X L N I G H T C L U B • 5 1 2 W E S T 4 2 N D S T • B R O A D W AY B A R E S . C O M

Winter Burlesque Jump Starts Steamy Broadway Bares Season

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roadway Bares continued its tradition of heating up frosty nights with a steamy edition of Winter Burlesque on January 26.

The 24th season of Broadway Bares kicked off with two eyepopping performances of Broadway Bares: Winter Burlesque, raising $32,781 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year’s edition of Winter Burlesque, dubbed Calendar Girl, took the standing-room-only audience on a scintillating journey inspired by 1999’s Broadway Bares IX: Calendar Girl. Two-time Tony Award nominee and Bares favorite Christopher Sieber opened the sizzling show, leading the company in a rousing number that celebrated his affection for each month of the year.

Starting off the New Year, Julius C. Carter stripped out of his black tie and tuxedo to reveal a chiseled six-pack. In a scantily clad ode to Valentine’s Day, Anne Otto used two pink feather fans to taunt and tease. For March, a quartet of frolicsome lads celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by flirting with a seemingly innocent leprechaun, played by J. Morgan White.

Representing both April showers and May flowers, Matt Anctil performed a humorous drag number. When backup dancers Sidney Erik Wright and Patrick Boyd clumsily destroyed his costume, the drag diva taught them a lesson by leaving them onstage with nothing but a few strategically placed blossoms.

June was “popping” out all over as Heather Lea Bair flirtatiously popped her costume of balloons. July featured Elizabeth Dugas as a spirited beach beauty with a crush for delectable pool boy Michael Scirrotto.

For August, Kristine Bendul, Waldemar Quiñones-Villanueva and Ryan Worsing performed “In the Garden,” an elegant pas de trios. The dance was originally choreographed by the late

Arte Phillips and first performed for Broadway Bares VII by Phillips, David Elder and Pascale Faye. The number received a standing ovation from the audience.

September featured Matthew Rossoff as a feisty student with a penchant for teacher. In a Halloween-inspired mad science number, four harness-clad assistants stripped Daniel Robinson out of a straightjacket and down to a leather thong.

Thanksgiving showcased Benjamin L. Horen as a pilgrim seduced by tasty turkeys in the form of four sexy ladies.

To cap off the year, impish elf Barrett Davis’ mischievousness drew the ire of the other elves. When a studly Santa Claus, played by Justin Smith, spanked him for his naughty behavior, the rest of the elves changed their tune, demanding to be reprimanded as well.

Throughout the evening, a scantily clad Billy Steeves kept the year flying by, introducing each month with giant cards.

The evening’s finale featured award-winning recording artist and Broadway veteran Matt Zarley performing his single “Everybody 4 Somebody,” accompanied by the entire Broadway Bares: Winter Burlesque company.

Broadway Bares: Winter Burlesque was directed and choreographed by Michael Lee Scott, with additional choreography by Sidney Erik Wright and Arte Phillips. Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell is executive producer and creator of Broadway Bares.

Broadway Bares is presented by M•A•C VIVA GLAM and generously sponsored by United Airlines. n PHOTOS & VIDEO

broadwaycares.org/winterburlesque2014

[behind the] scenes 20

debra monk birthday bash

Debra Monk Celebrates 65th Birthday with All-Star Concert

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eave it to the brilliantly delightful Debra Monk to step center stage with a show that combined rock ‘n’ roll, classic church hymns, accompanying herself on the drums and the humor one might more likely hear over a couple of beers than white wine.

As Monk celebrated her 65th birthday in an all-star benefit concert on February 24, the Tony and Emmy award winner accomplished all that and more in a raucous, high-energy night that included special guest performances by many of her closest friends.

Debra Monk Birthday Bash, billed as “Totally Hot and a Little Dirty,” raised $140,355 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Monk took the stage at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College singing “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” starting a journey through her favorite songs – from Van Morrison to Prince, Elton John to Freddie Mercury, Bonnie Raitt and, of course, Kander and Ebb. The concert ran the gamut from sentimental to outrageous. A seductive take on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” started with Broadway hunk Jim Newman wooing Monk. They were soon joined by lingerie-wearing Charlotte d’Amboise and Andrea Martin, who slithered onto the stage and ultimately into a comical foursome.

Ron Rifkin quickened the pace with high-stepping dance moves in a rocking duet of “Mockingbird,” while famed director Scott Ellis returned to his performance roots for an animated and free-spirited version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Brandon Victor Dixon, the sexy star of Motown The Musical, set Monk’s temperature rising with a steamy duet of “Something 21 [behind the] scenes

About the Way You Look Tonight.” Longtime buddy Victor Garber shared the spotlight with Monk for a touching rendition of “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Much of the night featured Monk performing her favorite songs solo. She celebrated her connection to her church with the classic gospel hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” She showcased her ageless talent by stepping back into her Tony-nominated role from the 1997 production of Steel Pier, transforming into “Everybody’s Girl” once again.

To the surprise of many in the audience, Monk demonstrated a prowess on the drums. Sticks in hand, Monk worked the drums and sang “Purple Rain,” “Real Man” and her finale, “The Theme from Exodus,” which concluded with a deadpan David Hyde Pierce walking on stage to perform the final cymbal crash.

Debra Monk Birthday Bash was directed and choreographed

by JoAnn M. Hunter with music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and David Gardos. The concert featured three talented back-up singers, which Monk dubbed “The Totally Hots” – Joe Grandy, Chuck Ragsdale and Julius Thomas III – and an exceptional 10-piece band.

“I wanted to make my 65th birthday something truly special and a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was the perfect answer,” Monk said. “By singing some great songs, sharing a few jokes and having fun with my closest friends, I hope I at least helped make a small difference for an organization so near and dear to my heart.”n

PHOTOS & VIDEO

broadwaycares.org/debramonk

broadway backwards

Backwards Fills Hirschfeld Theatre with Laughter, Tears & Cheers

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he best of Broadway wowed a sold-out house at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on March 24, bringing laughter, tears and cheers to the unforgettable ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards. The performance raised a record-breaking $423,182 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York.

With a hat tip to the Hirschfeld’s year-round residents, Andrew Keenan-Bolger delivered a hilarious rendition of Kinky Boots’ wildly popular “The History of Wrong Guys” complete with a guest appearance by Kinky Boots co-star Andy Kelso. Michael Berresse and Tony Yazbeck stopped the show with the classic “Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag” from Kander and Ebb’s longrunning Chicago.

Broadway and television favorite Julie White and adorable TV newcomer Bebe Wood hilariously hosted this year’s show, which featured a 51-person cast and onstage orchestra performing the great songs of musical theatre as told through the perspective of the gay and lesbian community.

Patricia Morison, the original “Kate” in Kiss Me, Kate, basked in the audience’s adoration and stole hearts in her return to a Broadway stage after 60 years. Morison, who turned 99 just a few days before the show, shared a witty and flawless take on “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.” Other memorable performers included Uzo Aduba, Bryan Batt, Stephen Bienskie, Stephanie J. Block, Robin De Jesús, Rick Elice, Colin Hanlon, Rachel Bay Jones, Beth Leavel, Jose Llana, Kyle Dean Massey, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, Ken Page, Roger Rees, John Tartaglia and Max von Essen.

Audience members were moved by stirring solos, including Norm Lewis’ rousing Act One finale of “Home” from The Wiz, Andrew Rannells’ stunning rendition of “The Man That Got Away” from A Star is Born and Billy Porter’s powerhouse version of Kander and Ebb’s “But the World Goes ’Round.” Jonathan Groff left audience members in tears with his tender performance of “I Got Lost in His Arms” from Annie Get Your Gun combined with “Goodnight My Someone” from The Music Man.

Broadway Backwards creator Robert Bartley returned as writer, director and choreographer, with additional choreography

by Amy Jones and Melissa Rae Mahon. Mary-Mitchell Campbell served as music supervisor with Tim Rosser as music director. The creative team included lighting designer Philip S. Rosenberg, costume designer Philip Heckman and sound designer Pitsch Karrer. As production stage manager, Peter Lawrence led an incredible stage management team of 14.

The presenting sponsor of Broadway Backwards was Lifetime Networks with generous support from The New York Times, United Airlines, DIRECTV, Here Media, John’s Pizzeria, Marriott Marquis, Mercer, Bloomberg, Chelsea Pines Inn, Get Services, Next Magazine, O’Melveny and Meyers LLP and Showtime. n

PHOTOS & VIDEOS

broadwaycares.org/backwards2014 [behind the] scenes 22

BEYOND THE FOOTLIGHTS

Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve Brings Holiday Cheer

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nn Harada returned as Broadway’s favorite social worker, Avenue Q’s Christmas Eve, in another hilarious performance of her holiday cabaret Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve was directed by Alan Muraoka with choreography by Rommy Sandhu and music direction by Gary Adler. The show was conceived and written

by Adler, Harada and Muraoka.n

The evening of song and comedy, which raised $9,140, skewered and paid tribute to some of the great romantic duets and iconic moments of Broadway. Some of Broadway’s most talented, hilarious and gorgeous leading men joined Harada, who originated the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and London productions of the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q. Sporting a costume matching the one she wore in the original production, Christmas Eve declared “listening to Broadway shows was how I learned to speak English – I think tonight is going to be really Shipoopi!” The evening featured performances by Adam Chanler-Beret, Santino Fontana, Jordan Geiber, Greg Hildreth, Marc Kudisch, Jose Llana, Howard McGillin, Leslie Odom Jr., Howie Michael Smith, Wesley Taylor and Max von Essen, with a special dance by Aaron Albano and Clinton Sherwood.

Cult Classic Pageant Returns for Limited Run Benefiting BC/EFA

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ore than 20 years after it made its first splash, Pageant – The Musical Comedy Beauty Contest returned to the New York stage for five sold-out performances in February. The Red Lacquer Club in Midtown Manhattan hosted the cult classic, with half of the proceeds benefiting Broadway Cares. Like every beauty pageant, Pageant featured contestants desperately vying for a glittering tiara, complete with swimsuit, talent and evening gown competitions.

Unlike most beauty pageants, these female contestants were all played by men in drag. Directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed

by Shea Sullivan and produced by Andy Sandberg, the cast of tiara-crazed beauties included many Broadway and NYC cabaret talents with Tony nominee Brad Oscar playing the pageant’s smarmy host. n 23 [behind the] scenes

Broadway Meets the NFL and Broadway Delivers Scores

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ony Award nominee Charl Brown stepped out of Motown and into the world of college football for a night in December as he opened the 2013 Heisman Trophy Awards dinner in New York City. Brown, who plays music legend Smokey Robinson in Motown The Musical, performed a stirring rendition of the national anthem, bringing the crowd at the Marriott Marquis Grand Ballroom to its feet. This unique partnership between Broadway and football occurs annually

thanks to Broadway Cares’ Broadway Delivers program, which helps connect organizations and corporations with Broadway talent in exchange for supporting the work of BC/EFA. Brown joins an impressive list of Broadway talent who have been a part of this extraordinary collaboration, including Rock of Ages’ Constantine Maroulis, Legally Blonde’s Kate Shindle and Jersey Boys’ Dominic Scaglione. n

Broadway’s “Dames” Dazzle and Delight in New Book

Celebrating a Remarkable HIV Positive 25th Anniversary

he February book launch for Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater was a glitzy benefit for Broadway Cares attended by many of the actresses profiled in the book. Written by Eddie Shapiro, Nothing Like a Dame shares in-depth conversations with 20 of musical theatre’s most illustrious female stars.

Launch attendees included Laura Benanti, Judy Kaye, Debra Monk, Lillias White and Karen Ziemba, who are featured in he book with Betty Buckley, Carol Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Victoria Clark, Sutton Foster, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Donna McKechnie, Idina Menzel, Donna Murphy, Bebe Neuwirth, Chita Rivera, Elaine Stritch and Leslie Uggams. The women discuss their careers, offer insights into iconic shows, changes on Broadway over the last century, as well as both the art and thrill of taking the stage night after night. n

ctor and activist Lee Raines celebrated 25 years of living, laughing and lounging successfully in the face of AIDS in How to Survive a Benefit, a special cabaret show in March that benefited BC/EFA. Raines described the evening as one featuring performances by “Broadway luminaries and broken down chorus boys in a madcap jamboree.” Raines, who calls himself a “conqueror of cancer and heart disease and longtime HIV survivor,” has worked with Chita Rivera, Morgan Fairchild and Kathleen Turner. A tireless activist, ACT UP veteran and lecturer, Raines was featured in the books Living Proof: Courage in the Face of AIDS and The AIDS Generation: Stories of Survival and Resilience. Raines presented equally delightful revues as BC/EFA benefits marking his 5th, 7th, 10th and 15th HIV anniversaries, each ending with a celebratory performance of Cher’s “Dark Lady” with his best pals and comrades in arms. n

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[behind the] scenes 24

CLASSICAL ACTION Angela Meade, Joshua Bell Amaze in Michael Palm Series Performances

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wo of classical music’s most sought-after stars – soprano Angela Meade and superstar violinist Joshua Bell – graciously shared their time and talents to captivate audiences in separate performances as part of the 2013-2014 Michael Palm Series for Classical Action, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Meade, who made her professional debut just six years ago, already is recognized as one of the outstanding vocalists of her generation.

Recipient of the 2012 Beverly Sills Artist Award from the Metropolitan Opera, Meade treated a wildly enthusiastic audience December 12 to a diverse program that included Giacomo Puccini, Franz Liszt, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Richard Strauss, Carl Maria von Weber and Giuseppe Verdi.

One of many high points of the evening was Meade’s offering of “A Letter from Sullivan Ballou,” written by John Kander, who’s best known for his legendary Broadway collaborations with Fred Ebb, including Chicago and Cabaret. “A Letter from Sullivan Ballou” is based on an actual letter written by an Army major to his wife just before he died in the Battle of Bull Run. Meade’s spellbinding performance, accompanied by pianist Bradley Moore, moved several audience members to tears.

Superstar violinist Bell brought the annual series to a resounding close February 3 in an intimate, unforgettable recital. The frosty, snowy night could not keep more than 120 Classical Action patrons from the rare opportunity of seeing Bell, who was making his triumphant return to the series after a nearly 10-year absence.

Bell’s customary warmth, charismatic charm and profound musicality were keenly on display in his program of Giuseppe Tartini, Ludwig van Beethoven and Igor Stravinsky. Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 10 in G Major,” the last piano and violin sonata Beethoven wrote and Bell’s favorite of the 10 sonatas, was performed with deeply moving musical insight by Bell and pianist Sam Haywood. The ethereal beauty of the second movement was one of the many musical highlights of his performance.

Special thanks to longtime Classical Action supporters Kevin Roon and Simon Yates who have graciously hosted the last three seasons of the Michael Palm Series.

The series is named for Michael Palm, a most generous and enthusiastic supporter of Classical Action who died in 1998.

More than anyone else, Palm spearheaded the concept of benefit house concerts, hosting several of them himself at his penthouse apartment 37 floors above Lincoln Center. The sole underwriter of the series is the Michael Palm Foundation, with additional sponsorship from United Airlines and Beaulieu Vineyard.

MORE INFO

classicalaction.org

25 [behind the] scenes

Up Our Alley Strikes Again With Record-Breaking $191,318 They cleverly called themselves “Spare Me Dahling” and “Too Hot to Handel” or wore T-shirts emblazoned with the punny “Strike a pose.” And while the 15th installment of Up Our Alley may look like just fun and games, the more than 300 bowlers participating last November raised a serious amount of money: a record-setting $191,318.

Up Our Alley, Classical Action’s annual bowling benefit bonanza, again brought together a diverse gathering of bowlers as the performing arts community joined forces with teams from finance, marketing and television firms to raise funds for those battling HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses.

Among the November 18 participants, the most money raised by a team was $10,980 by The Bar Bra’s. The top individual fundraiser was Charles Hamlen from Orchestra of St. Luke’s with $4,650.

Among the November 19 participants, the most money raised by a team was $22,611 by Credit Suisse. The top individual fundraiser was Doug Nieters from Credit Suisse with $7,175. n

Dancers Responding to aids

DRA Launches ‘Dancers Who Care’ for Hometown Fundraising

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ometimes all that is needed to be inspired to take action is a video on YouTube, a post on Facebook, an email or a casual conversation with a friend.

When Lauren Kleinman watched dancer Ryan Kasprzak’s video “A Dance for Life,” she was inspired to create a tap club at the University of Florida. Randi Stecki, a dancer from New Jersey, was inspired by one of her high school teachers to get involved in a cause-related project. Cassie Coulas, a dancer and instructor at New York City’s Physique 57, was inspired to make a difference after reading an email about a local gym hosting a benefit for Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. “Everyone wants to have a positive impact on the world but often don’t know where to begin,” DRA Founding Director Denise Roberts Hurlin said. “To make it as easy as possible to get started, we created Dancers Who Care.”

With her best friend, Stecki created Dance4AIDS, a series of benefit dance workshops for children in her community. They welcomed 25 participants their first year and nearly tripled that in three years.

Coulas recruited her colleagues at Physique 57 to create a dance performance that showcased the staff’s vast talent and raised more than $12,000.

The sources of inspiration were different, but the desire to act on behalf of DRA was the same.

“Now, by learning from the experiences of others, Dancers Who Care provides an invaluable resource to find answers on how to make a difference,” Roberts Hurlin said. “By doing what you love, you can help make someone stronger, healthier and more secure not only across the country but in your home state, too.” n

Dancers Who Care provides a wealth of ideas to help people of all ages find fun and engaging ways to raise money to support DRA’s efforts. The online program includes an easy-to-use toolkit to create personalized fundraising pages that can be shared with friends and family through email and social media. By leveraging the tools, anyone can build on what’s been successfully done in the past and make it their own.

Kleinman and classmate Dani Warmund use the online fundraising component from Dancers Who Care to fuel Stomp the Swamp, the Florida rhythm tap dance team they created to raise money for DRA.

MORE INFO

dradance.org/dancerswhocare [behind the] scenes 26

Education & outreach

PA Thespians Celebrate 15 Years of Support and Awareness

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ifteen years ago, in tiny Lansdale, PA, a high school senior’s community service project ignited a movement that now involves thousands of students nationwide every year and has collectively raised $1.18 million.

Ryan Williams’ student-produced variety show at North Penn High School in 1999 became the first high school theatre event in the country to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The effort has continued to grow every year. The 15th anniversary edition of The Knight of the Arts in February raised $4,516 and included not only the North Penn Thespians, but songs and dances from the area’s three middle schools, a display of student-created artwork pertaining to the cause, a silent auction and “pop up” coffee house performances in the lobby.

“Besides their joy at being able to raise money for BC/EFA, to which they are all strongly committed, the students build

leadership, communication, time management and collaboration skills that are immeasurable,” said Andrea Lee Roney, North Penn’s theatre teacher and thespian troupe director.

Since that first show in 1999, North Penn Thespians have raised $65,279 for Broadway Cares.

When it started, then-theatre teacher Cynthia L. Louden encouraged Williams and her other students not just to raise money, but to raise school-wide awareness of the AIDS crisis.

Panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt were brought in and facts about HIV/AIDS were incorporated into the program between musical numbers and skits.

After that first successful fundraiser at North Penn, the idea spread to the Pennsylvania State Thespian Annual Conference and ultimately took hold at the International Thespian Society’s annual festival. Thespians from almost every state now are actively involved and making a difference on behalf of Broadway Cares. Their fundraising efforts are modeled after those of their favorite Broadway companies and include audience appeals, auctions, raffles, special performances and cabarets.

During this year’s North Penn gala, BC/EFA Director of Education Joe Norton surprised Louden, who retired in 2005, with a special award recognizing her achievement and honored the continuing work of North Penn’s thespians.

“What’s so special to me about working with thespians is how well they organize as community activists, as leaders in HIV/AIDS awareness and as shining examples to their own communities that the arts in schools are vital,” Norton said. “It makes me so proud to go back every year to a new class of dedicated and talented artists, activists and community leaders.” n LEARN MORE

27 [behind the] scenes

broadwaycares.org/educationoutreach

Angels Circle 2013-2014 Providing a Sustainable Foundation The following are members of the Angels Circle as of April 1, 2014. Names in bold indicate Broadway Cares Archangels, donors who increased their gift by 25 percent or more over the previous year. Members of the Angels Circle include individuals, organizations, family foundations and corporations. Contributions are unrestricted and not related to event or merchandise purchases. On behalf of our volunteers, staff, Board of Trustees and the many men, women and children with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses who count on Broadway Cares for assistance, we salute these donors.

In appreciation of an annual contribution of $1,000 or more, Angels receive VIP status at some of Broadway Cares’ most high-profile events, including Gypsy of the Year and the Easter Bonnet Competition, as well as a host of other exciting benefits.

There are many ways to become a member of the Angels Circle. You can join as an individual, a couple, a family or even as part of a group of friends, co-workers, fan club or sports league. You can charge your membership on a monthly or quarterly basis. In addition, if your employer matches charitable contributions, a gift of $500 or more can qualify you for membership at the $1,000 level.

For more information about the benefits of the Angels Circle, please contact Ryan Walls, senior development officer, at walls@broadwaycares.org or 212.840.0770, ext. 275.

Executive Producer

Reel Time Video Production: Jonathan Frank & Alex Pearlman

The Fosdick Fund

The Fred Ebb Foundation

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, San Francisco

Jill & Marty Handelsman

gifts of $100,000 and above Mr. Robert Rhodehamel & Mr. Dana Snyder

Producer

Mickey Rolfe & Bruce Tracy Thomas Schumacher & Matthew White Theatrical Stage Employees Local One/ IATSE

gifts from $50,000 to $99,999

The Tiger Baron Foundation

Bonnie Pfeifer Evans & The Charles Evans Foundation*

John Voege & Geoffrey Paul

The Shubert Organization

Director

gifts from $25,000 to $49,999 Laura M. Boedeker Myrna & Freddie Gershon remember Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Allen, Tom Eyen, Arthur Laurents, Marty Richards and Lou Reed H. van Ameringen Foundation Sam & Happy Shipley Hollis Stern The Ted Snowdon Foundation Lizzie & Jonathan M. Tisch

House Seat

gifts from $10,000 to $24,999 Roger Berlind Paul Boskind William W. Donnell John W. Holloway Paul Libin & Florence Rowe Libin Newman’s Own Foundation John Okuloski & Frank Duff The Palette Fund Platt Family Foundation in memory of Gary Platt

Robert Tuschman

Orchestra Seat

gifts from $5,000 to $9,999

I. Steven Goldstein & William Popeleski, Jr. James C. Hormel & Michael P. Nguyen Ray Iwanowski Jerome S. Glazer Foundation George E. Jordan in memory of Michel G. Delhaise Detlef Kamps Mike Keating Harriett Kittner Larry Luing & Dario Espinosa Kevin R. Lyle Scott Mallalieu & Nathaniel Fuchs

Actors’ Equity Foundation

Daniel Maury

Sam Altman in memory of Murray Schapiro and Shirley Herz

Peter McKown

The Apatow-Mann Family Foundation ATPAM

Calvin Mitchell

The Barrington Foundation, Inc.

Ruth Neale

Willard Beckham Elaine D. Berger Bertsch Family Charitable Foundation in memory of June Bertsch George L. Bielitz & John Derco The Carl Jacobs Foundation City National Bank Gloria & Charles I. Clough Jr.

Cookie & Mike Miller Jane Morison Rob O’Neill & Shawn Anderson Paul Oppedisano Playbill, Inc. ® Mimi Prentice Jose Rojas & Nina Cavalli Schaeffer Family Foundation Schmackary’s The Stephanie & Carter McClelland Foundation

Box Seat

gifts from $2,500 to $4,999 Actors Federal Credit Union James D. Akins, Jr. James J. Andrews* Stuart S. Applebaum in memory of Mr. Vincent Zito Michael Artura Richard P. Baks Paris Baldacci & Andrew S. Dolkart Alec Baldwin John Barnes & Charles Champagne Mark Basile & Steven Schnepp in memory of Paul Penfield and John Heppenstall Scott Bass & Dominic Chiarello Nan & Joe Benincasa Melvin Bernhardt & Jeff Woodman Robert Billig & Richard Vida Walter Bobbie & David Frye John Bowab Deborah & Steven Cavalier CESD Talent Agency Charlie & Moll Anderson Foundation Cathy Chernoff Tracy Cohen & William Ludel William Craver

Anthony Sweeney

Mitties M. DeChamplain in loving memory of Stephen Anthony Moore

David Terveen

Jamie deRoy in memory of Bradshaw Smith

Deborah Dakin

Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 764 IATSE

Drew Desky & Dane Levens

Paula Kaminsky Davis

Randy Weddle

Dr. Gerald J. & Dorothy R. Friedman Foundation in honor of Samuel J. Friedman

Nina & Gary Wexler

Samantha & Drew Cohen The Column Awards Patrick Crosetto Scott Dainton

Sam Ellis in memory of Doris Eaton Travis

Barbara Whitman Diane M. & Kevin Wilshere Anonymous

The Edith Meiser Foundation in memory of Irving Cheskin Joe Evall & Richard Lynn in memory of Spencer Cox Robert Evers Peter Farrell*

[behind the] scenes 28

Angels Circle 2013-2014 Jules Fisher & Graciela Daniele

Richard E. Rauh

Maggie Flanigan & Richard Dow

Michael Renzo

Marianne Ganzer in memory of John Ganzer

Richard F. Walsh/Alfred W. Di Tolla/ Harold P. Spivak Foundation

John Paul Geurts & Robert W. Stolt

Warren D. Riffle & Kurt A. Fleagle

Dale Glasser in memory of Steven Glasser

David Romero & David Greiss

Dan Goggin

Rose Brand

Adam J. Goldfarb

D Mark Schumann

Linda Harris

Shake Shack

Jerry Herman

Ronald Shechtman

Robert C. Hickman

Amy Sherman-Palladino

Claude Bernstein & Melody Wang

William S. Hoover, MD

Rob Sinacore in memory of Dr. Malcolm Berg (our love lives on)

Phillip Bettencourt Phil & Mary Beuth

Eileen T. Stapleton

Jon Bierman

Andrew W. Stern

Chuck Blasius in memory of Linda Accardi

Matthew P. Hui Kathy Inch Joe Allen Restaurant John L. McHugh Foundation Doug Johnson & Valerie Gordon-Johnson Kelly Karavites & Francis P. King Amy Kaufmann & Ruth Ro Kathryn Keneally & Thomas Marshall Karen Kennedy in memory of Muriel & Bob Kennedy Edgar A. Knudson

Robin Strasser in honor of Ed Richmond and Robert Kilgore

Mark & Susan Dalton

Brent Barrett

Merle Debuskey & Pearl Somner

Kevin Beebee Beech Street Foundation Alan Bell & David Ziff Douglas Bella Nancy Duggan Benson Mark Bernhardt

Dave Boone

Stuart Thompson & Joe Baker

Carl & Karen Bowen

Clay Thornton

Loraine Boyle

Tina & Jeffrey Bolton Family Fund

Roy Brayton & Mickey Sullivan

Joyce Van Patten

Briggs, Inc.

Tom Viola in memory of his dad, “Doc” Viola

J. Arthur Brost

Allen Walker

Corey Brunish & Jessica Rosenfeld

Nina & Timothy Lannan in memory of Arthur Siccardi III

Ric Wanetik & David Hagans

Angela Lansbury

Max Weintraub

Jay Laudato & Thomas Watson

Michael Wescoe & Randy Thompson

Stephanie Lee/Group Sales Box Office

Whittier & Associates in honor of David H. Whittier

Judith Light & Robert Desiderio

Scott Barnes & Brian Kellow in memory of our best gal, Marianne Challis

Weinberg Family Foundation

Barry Brown Don Buchwald & Associates James & Debbie Burrows Michelle L. Butler Christopher Cara Carleton Carpenter

Duke Dang & Charles Rosen* in loving memory of David Panzer DeCarlo Cooper Family Keith Degi, M.D. Sam P. Del Propost Michael Demby-Cain* Louis J. Denkovic Jay Deratany Charles Deull Alvin Deutsch Senator Mike & Fran DeWine Ankur & Julie Doshi Michael K. Douglas Judy & Tim Dove Toni Downey Mike Doyle & Bret Kobler Randall Drain Christopher Durang The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation Valerie Eigner Steven Elkin Anthony & Kristin Ellenbogen Peter Entin & Barbara Janowitz Robert Eppenstein & Dante Sandoli Marcy Epstein Ken Fakler Jack Feldman & Matthew Liss

Wyncote Foundation

Frank Carucci & David Diamond remembering Michael DeBenedittis, gone 30 years

George R. Zuber & Anthony Snyder

Rev. Thomas M. Catania

James Martin

Anonymous

Stockard Channing

Edward & Lori Forstein

Marin Mazzie & Jason Danieley in memory of Gary Bonasorte

Front Mezzanine

Charles and Margaret Levin Family Foundation

Dale J. Fournier & Michael R. Wellington* David France*

The Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation

Clay Francis

Paula & David Chase

Steve Frasheur

Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Chernoff

Robert & Noah Aberlin*

Fraydun Foundation, Inc.

Alan Chung & Buffy Redsecker

Kenneth & Ellen Adler

Sean Free

Evan Cohen

Rich Ahrens

William & Carol Ann Freeman

Jill Cohen

Douglas J. Albert

Barbara & Buddy Freitag

Bill Condon

John R. Alchin & Hal Marryatt

Mark Connel

David A. Friedman in memory of my mother Shirley Friedman

Lee Anisman

John Contratti

Pierre Frinault

James L. Ansin

Ramon Contreras & Rick Fatzinger

Rob Anzalone

Frank Conway*

David M. Fromm in memory of my partner Robert Motley

Gerald M. Appelstein*

Joel Steven Cook

David Glenn Armstrong & Jeffrey Miller in memory of Todd Coroliuc

Casey Cook

Maury Newburger

The Arthur Loeb Foundation

Phyllis Newman in honor of Adolph Green’s 100th birthday year

Terri-Marie Assous

Harriet Cooperman

Bob Avian & Peter Pileski

Michael Paleos

Fran Macferran Lee Manford Steven Markov & Jeffrey Meleski

David R. McShane & The Samantha Fund Mark Mendelson Mr. & Mrs. E. Van R. Milbury Keith Miller Marianne McGrath Mills Jonathan Mintzer Brian Stokes Mitchell & Allyson Tucker in honor of Tom Viola Ira Mont & Jill Cordle Mont William Morey Javier Morgado & Nick Pennink James L. Nederlander R. Wayne Nederlander Judith A. Nelson* in memory of Wayne McCarthy

Terrence J. Witter & Artie de la Cruz

gifts from $1,000 to $2,499

The A.R. Hughes Family Fund in loving memory of our cousin Thomas H. Anderson

Kenneth E Cooke

Donald Filicetti & John Mackerey Andrew & Betsy Fippinger Kevin & Helen Flanagan*

Ronald & Susan Frankel

Vincent Gaeta Michelle Garcia Christopher Garek Tom Garner*

Donald Correll

Bruce & Alice Geismar

Thomas Cott* in memory of Philip Carlson

The Gelfand Family Foundation

Gary Bagley

Thomas Gentile

Gilbert Parker in memory of Richard Bauman

Christopher & Paris Barclay

William C. Cubberley*

Richard Gerrig & Timothy Peterson

Stephen Bardfield

Maxine Gerson

Lee Perlman & Linda Riefberg

Maurice Brandon Curry

Clay & Karen Barnes in honor of Gracie & Christina Barnes

D S Simon Productions

Mark Gibson & Roger Hyde

Jonathan Pickhardt 29 [behind the] scenes

John Gibson & Allerton Cushman III

Gary Knapp

Michel Gilbert

Kenneth Koen*

Roger Gindi & Gregory Victor

Ron Kollen

Joanna Gleason & Chris Sarandon

Ronald & Isobel Konecky

Mary Cox Golden

Ram Koppaka

Robert D. Gonzales

Lillian Kraemer

Ernest Gonzalez & Scott Siler

Robert J. Kunikoff

Kathryn Goodman

Gary Kuchta & Will Rogers

Crawford Gordon

Michael Kuzma

Stefanie M. Gorman

Trey LaFave

Barbara Gottlieb The Gould-Shenfeld Family Foundation Dana & Fred Gourtay Dane Grams John Graves & Dennis Lonergan Emily Grishman & Susan Sampliner Barry & Maggie Grove Sarah & Joel Handelman Eugene Harbin, Jr. The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Inc. Carrie Anne K. Harrell Michael P. Harrell Edward A. Harris & Amy Madigan Jennifer Hatch & Sue Smith The Hatch Family Steve Hatfield & Patrick Riordan* Jeffrey Hayenga & Michael Belanger Joseph Heffernan Joseph R. Heller Joy Henshel Richard M. Hester Jerry Hirsch Susan & Neal Hirsch James Hoelz & William Welsh Judith M. Hoffman Holland Costello Charitable Giving Fund Sally Horchow Andrea & Craig Horowitz Carol A. Ingram in memory of Rodger McFarlane Ira M. Resnick Foundation in honor of Robin Sherman Michael T. Isbell in honor of Spencer Cox Jack & Moe Rouse Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Jeanne & Waldo Jackson in memory of our son Robert Jackson Jane Street Entertainment The Janis & Alan Menken Foundation Thai Jason in honor of Tom Viola Earl Johnson & Douglas Ward Cherry Jones Dr. Steven Kaplan & Court Whisman Karma Foundation Tom Kazmark Thomas Kazmierczak & Ted Blankenship Hillary & Bruce David Klein

Maddi, Charlie & Bridget Niebanck friends of John Lloyd Young

Sky Bar Times Square

Albert Nocciolino

Mark Sohn

Nora Roberts Foundation Adrian Noriega Michael Novin Stuart Oken

Michael Sodomick Christine Spencer James Spiegelhoff Peter Steinman & Todd Geringswald

Old Gaspard, Inc.

Robin Strasser in honor of Ed Richmond and Robert Kilgore

Kevin Oldis

Meryl Streep & Don Gummer

Roger Oliver

Steve Sweet

Nathan Lane in memory of Stanley DeSantis

Dale C. Olson & Eugene Harbin, Jr.

Peter Taub

John K. Orberg

Greg Taylor

Brian Lawlor

Lisa Orberg

Sharon Terrill

Ann M. Lehman in memory of Rick Burglund & Gary Warren

Stephen Osada

John Henry Thomas III

James Leonard

Marc Owens

Times Square Scoops

Ronald Painter

Stephen & Valerie Toups

Alfredo Paredes

Matthew D. Tumminello

Philip Paroian

Twelfth Night Club, Inc.

Gregg Passin

Mark Tynan

Tom Lombardi

Ralph L. Pellecchio & James C. Wernz, M.D.

Beth M. Uffner

Tim O. Lorah

Thomas S. Perakos

Philip & Rita Loy

Donald R. Pickens

William & Helen Van Syckle

Thomas Luciano

Erik Piecuch & Alex Wright*

David C. Ludwigson & LaMont Craig in honor of Rodger McFarlane

Brad Plunkett

Steve Lukens Donald Lutt

The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation in honor of Friends of Relevant Theatricals

Steven F. Lutz

James Rado

Mark Macatee

Anthony Ramos

Maureen A. Macfadden

Jonathan Rebell

John J. Mackerey

Monica & Greg Reid

Maidstone Productions in memory of Ted Tulchin

Teresa Reyes & Martin Monas*

John Mandler & William Velhagen

Michael Risinger

Mark Levine & Nate Halsey Laurie Levinberg Diane Lippert Michael Lombard

Barbara Manocherian Jesse Manocherian Eric Marcus Clif Mathews & Dustin Basco Jo Mayer Richard V. McCune - City National Entertainment David McKillop Mark McLaren Bill Melamed Jr. & Jamey Lundblad Lawrence & Nancy Meleski in honor of Jeff Meleski & Steve Markov MeritDirect, LLC Michael Mills & Mark McGrath Kathleen Moloney Debra Monk Sally Campbell Morse Moving on NYC & Karpoff Affiliates, LLC Jason J. Moyer Mark Mullett & Keith Bloomfield Gary Munk Bebe Neuwirth & Chris Calkins* Stanley Newman & Dr. Brian Rosenthal

L. Glenn Poppleton

Bob Rhodehamel & Dana Snyder Tim Robinson & Paul Habig Jonathan Rock & Patrick Delacruz Rockers on Broadway Michael & Deborah Rohrkaste Janet Rose Soumya Roy Lori Rubinstein in honor of Bill Sapsis Loren Ruch & David Salas Samuel L. Phillips Family Foundation Dorothy & Peter Samuels William Schermerhorn & Dan Dutcher Michael Schober & Don Harrison Will Schwalbe & David Cheng Debra & Michael Segal Sally J. Seiberlich Mark Sekita & Ryugo Toh Elliott R. Sernel Kenneth G. Shelley Mary Jo & Ted Shen in memory of Gordon Stokes Kurtti Dan Silver & Eric Dean Davis Carl & Fay Simons

Sally Unger Rima Vargas-Vetter Ariadne & Juan Villarreal Visit Orlando Richard & Debra Voller Carol Waaser Honey Waldman Suzyn Waldman Tom & Connie Walsh Emery Warren Herbert & Shelley Washer We Care Cruises Arthur E. Webster*, Esq. Peg & Gary Wendlandt Cortright Wetherill, Jr. Nancy A. Wheeler Fred White & Greg Kammerer Danny Whitman & Robert Bartley in memory of Francine Whitman Richard C. Wiggers Margo Wintersteen Howard & Diane Wohl Jeff Wolk Matthew Zaccagni Carley & Mike Zaccaro ZBI Employee Allocated Gift Fund The Ziegfeld Club Lucinda Zink Elliot Zulver & Sally Gold Anonymous (2) Anonymous in memory of Alex Katz Anonymous in memory of Ruth Hoefgen * Indicates members of the DRA Angels Circle

[behind the] scenes 30

LEGACY & LEADERSHIP

Shared Commitment Turns Event Supporters into Angels

S

ometimes, the power of a performance lasts long after the actors leave the stage. For Broadway Cares supporters like Elaine Berger and Jose Rojas, the lingering impact of BC/EFA events spurred them to become members of the Angels Circle, the annual giving society.

Berger can easily rattle off her favorite leading ladies and men of Broadway, including Tony nominee Tony Sheldon whom she met at the Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction. But it’s not the stars that attracted her to Broadway Cares. “My passion is to recognize and thank the unsung heroes of the stage, the ensemble players who bring a show to life every night but whose names are not as widely known,” Berger said. “I learned that many of them donate their precious time and talent to raise money for BC/EFA and that’s when I first got involved. I went to every event possible and brought my friends so they could experience the magic, too.”

Then in 2012, Berger decided to extend her support beyond events by joining the Angels Circle. “For me, it is not just about writing a check but also about recognizing the community that brings joy to so many,” she said. “It is rare to feel such joy simply by making a donation.”

For Rojas, the connection is deeply personal. In 1993, he was a surgical intern on the infectious disease ward of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan’s West Village. It was during the height of the initial AIDS crisis. Rojas vividly recalls the hopelessness that permeated the ward and the stigma surrounding HIV in the general public. “That time opened my eyes to the horrors of the pandemic and its destruction to human life,” Rojas said.

Years later, Rojas won a BC/EFA auction to conduct the exit music at The Phantom of the Opera, his favorite musical. “After the show, Craig Jacobs, the production stage manager, gave me a backstage tour and introduced me to the cast and crew,” Rojos said.

Their enthusiasm for Broadway Cares matched Rojas’ growing admiration for BC/EFA’s work. He decided then that he wanted to do more to support the organization so he made a direct contribution, joining the Angels Circle. “It feels like I’ve come

31 [behind the] scenes

full circle from my days at St. Vincent’s,” he said. “Only now, I am surrounded by hope from other supporters who are equally passionate about theatre and the talented performers committed to this critical cause.” n

Angels Circle: broadwaycares.org/angels

Making a Difference with Monthly Giving

T

exans Clif Mathews and Dustin Basco fell in love with Broadway long ago. On occasional visits, they’d drop money in one of the red Broadway Cares buckets if a show they were seeing was collecting. They’d even attended a couple editions of Broadway Bares. They realized, though, that they wanted to do more; they wanted to continue contributing in a deeper way that demonstrated their ongoing commitment to HIV/AIDS. “We decided to step up our involvement in the crisis and do whatever we could to make a difference so we became monthly donors,” Basco said. “Giving every month is easy because we don’t have to think about it. Our donation is charged to our credit card automatically.”

After a stint living in New York, the couple recently moved back to Texas but their monthly gift is one of the ways they stay connected with Broadway Cares. “It’s something simple we do on a regular basis, not just when we think about it or when there’s a fundraising event,” Basco said. “It’s our way of saying this is a priority.” n

Supporting Players Circle: broadwaycares.org/supportingplayers

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Everyone Wins with Tax-Deductible Care-Tix Benefit from a tax-deductible donation while enjoying Broadway’s hottest shows from the best seats in the house.

Through BC/EFA’s unique Care-Tix program, you can purchase VIP Tickets not available to the general public when you make an equivalent donation to Broadway Cares.

Visit broadwaycares.org/caretix for details or call 212.840.0770, ext. 229, to arrange your tickets.

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Save The Date

Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!

Sunday, June 22 9:30 pm & Midnight Hammerstein Ballroom 311 West 34th Street, NYC

Broadway Barks Saturday, July 12 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm Shubert Alley

Fire Island Dance Festival Friday, July 18 Saturday, July 19 Sunday, July 20 Fire Island Pines, NY

28th Annual Broadway Flea market & Grand Auction Sunday, September 21 10 am - 7 pm West 44th Street & Shubert Alley

broadwaycares.org

Bucks county Cabaret

Hudson valley Dance Festival

Saturday, October 4

Saturday, October 11

Bucks County Playhouse New Hope, PA

Historic Catskill Point Catskill, NY