Tony winner and television icon Andrea Martin flexed her incomparable comedy muscles in a riotous rendition of “My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada” from Avenue Q. Aladdin’s Telly Leung and Dear Evan Hansen’s Taylor Trensch transformed “Who Will Love Me As I Am?” from Side Show from a song between sisters to a lovers’ duet. Emmy Award nominee and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess left the audience spellbound with his touching rendition of “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” from Cabin in the Sky. Anneliese van der Pol of Beauty and the Beast and TV’s That’s So Raven delivered a rapturous version of “She Touched Me” from Drat! The Cat!. Hamilton’s Bryan Terrell Clark and Sunday in the Park with George’s Michael McElroy filled the Al Hirschfeld Theatre with romance and warmth as they tenderly performed The Color Purple’s “What About Love?” Noah Galvin, who recently played the title role in Dear Evan Hansen, and Nico Tortorella from TV’s Younger hilariously sang through a late-night couple’s quarrel in “Therapy” from Tick, Tick...Boom!. When Annie’s Andrea McArdle threatened to move away, Come From Away’s Sharon Wheatley coyly confessed her undying devotion in “If I Were You” from All American, which McArdle readily reciprocated. New Kids on the Block’s and Wicked's Joey McIntyre belted Funny Girl’s “Don’t Rain on My Parade”, turning it into an LGBTQ anthem as he ultimately stripped off his jacket to reveal a T-shirt reading “Equality.” Broadway favorite Betsy Wolfe belted out a breathtaking performance of the Dear Evan Hansen hit “Waving Through a Window.” Broadway legend and Tony winner Len Cariou delivered a moving rendition of “And I Was Beautiful” from Dear World. Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck gave an LGBTQ twist to a sweet favorite when he gushed about a guy who brought him a tasty treat in “Vanilla Ice Cream” from She Loves Me. Will Swenson took the audience back to their high school days of crushes and curfews with “Joey is a Punk Rocker” from Joe Iconis’ The Black Suits, as he fawned over his school’s resident bad boy.
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Behind the Scenes
PHOTOS & VIDEO
The evening was hosted by Broadway star and longtime friend of Broadway Cares Julie Halston, who brought her signature brand of comedy and creativity to the stage. Halston set aside her hosting hat momentarily to contemplate her plan for finding a wife in “Reviewing the Situation” from Oliver!. Special guest Academy Award winner Hayley Mills, who appeared this spring in Off-Broadway’s Party Face, thanked the audience and performers for their invaluable support of Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS and The Center. Broadway Backwards creator Robert Bartley wrote and directed this year’s show. Adam Roberts was associate director. The show featured choreography by Bartley, Roberts, Quillin and Wolcott. Mary-Mitchell Campbell served as music supervisor, Laura Bergquist was music director and Christopher D. Littlefield was associate music director. The creative team included lighting designer Jake DeGroot, costume designers Jess Gersz and Vanessa Leuck and sound designer Matt Berman. Jeff Brancato was production stage manager. What began as a small, grassroots concert performed in the community room at The Center in 2006 has grown into a highly anticipated event presented in one of Broadway’s most beautiful theatres. In its 13 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $4.1 million for Broadway Cares and The Center. Major sponsors of Broadway Backwards included Celebrity Cruises, Facebook, The New York Times and United Airlines. n