Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) is a diverse choir and service organization powered by Broadway artists using music to inspire hope and change lives.
OUR MISSION
BIV is committed to supporting and strengthening communities in need. We accomplish our mission through uplifting choir performances and our signature arts, education, and outreach programs.
Through creative engagement we build a sense of community in safe and empowering spaces for individuals to be vulnerable, to heal, and to rebuild. Our nationwide innovative and collaborative music and performing arts programs serve marginalized and overlooked communities in need. TONY® honored Broadway Inspirational Voices is uniquely positioned to access a diverse pool of creative professionals from Broadway and beyond who seek meaningful outlets to use their hearts and talents to provide mentorship and inspiration.
honoring
MICHAEL McELROY
with The Broadway Inspirational Voices Founder Award
TOM VIOLA
with The The Broadway Inspirational Voices Inspiration Award
featuring the BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES
30TH
YEAR CELEBRATION CONCERT COMMITTEE:
Rob Acton, Sylive Armand, Leslie Barrett, Bruce Cohen, Tim Croneberger, Dr. Danielle Durden-Taylor, Tom Durein, J Harrison Ghee, Matt Gilbert, Michael Goddard, Angela Grovey, Sin-Jung Hong, Anna R. Kaltenbach, Allen René Louis, Dan’l Mackey Almy, Christye Nicholas, John Eric Parker West, Kevin Ryan, Diane Scott Carter, Michael Seelbach, Marc Shaiman, Jason Shuffler, Dina Slawson, Michael Strassheim, Rob Sutton, Shaina Taub, Cynthia Vance, Julie Voyzey, Christopher Williams, Danielle Wolfrum
SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCES BY:
Sara Bareilles, David “BS” Bradshaw, Aneesa Folds, Steve French, Marcus Paul James, Joseph Joubert, Alex Newell, Leslie Carrara Rudolph, Paul Rudolph, Adriane Lenox, Allen René Louis, Avery Wilson
SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES BY:
Angela Grovey, Ariana DeBose, Phylicia Rashad, Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley Jackson
MONDAY, APRIL 7th, 2025
City Winery New York, 25 11th Avenue, NYC
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Broadway Inspirational Voices’ 30th Year Fundraising Concert! Tonight, we celebrate three decades of music, mission, and impact. What began as a small community of artists lifting their voices in hope has grown into a powerful force for joy, healing, and change.
As we reflect on our journey, we honor the extraordinary artists, leaders, and supporters who have made this milestone possible. Your unwavering belief in our mission allows us to bring music to those who need it most, spreading BIV’s great light in concert halls, schools, medical clinics, incarceration facilities, senior centers—and even the White House.
It’s a special joy to lift up and celebrate two friends tonight. Our founder, the incredible Michael McElroy, envisioned this work and sacrificially led BIV for 27 years. Our first institutional funder, Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids (BC/EFA) remains a faithful investor in the work. We honor Tom Viola tonight for his unwavering support of BIV over the course of his extraordinary 36 years as BC/EFA’s Executive Director.
Because of Michael and Tom, countless lives—including mine—have found hope, healing, and inspiration from our remarkable choir and each individual member.
Tonight is not just a celebration of our past but a great promise for the future. With your support, BIV will continue to inspire, uplift, and serve for many years to come. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey.
With gratitude,
Rob Acton Chair of the Board
Broadway Inspirational Voices
BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES (BIV)
In 1994 more than 32,000 people died from AIDS or AIDS-related complications in the U.S. Many of those deaths came from within the Broadway community. As Broadway grappled with the loss of an entire generation of artists, Tony and Grammy-nominated Michael McElroy (founder of the Broadway Inspirational Voices) saw in the community a profound need for hope, unity, and inspiration. He envisioned an organization where professional artists would come together and volunteer their gift to provide comfort, joy, and the promise of a better day–and as a result, The Broadway Gospel Choir was born.
This magical synergy of authentic Gospel soul and Broadway bravura was re-imagined as the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) in 1999 and they have been the theatre community’s center of support and celebration ever since. In 2019, The Tony Awards Administration Committee presented the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to four outstanding contributors to the Broadway industry, and Broadway Inspirational Voices was a recipient. The Tony Honor was a resounding endorsement of BIV’s enduring work and impact and in celebration of 25 years of service. In 2020, McElroy hand picked composer/ singer Allen René Louis to become the new Artistic Director for BIV. BIV’s diverse membership has represented over 140 Broadway shows since its inception. For more information—and for ways to DONATE—go to www.BIVoices.org. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at handle @BIVoices.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Allen René Louis
Allen René Louis is a Haitian-American Grammynominated producer, composer, arranger, and creative director. His artistry is deeply rooted in his cultural background and church upbringing. Louis attended Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, where he studied vocal performance. While in attendance, he continued to hone his musical skills by directing the male Acapella group, as well as leading the collegiate Gospel Choir.
Louis was the vocal arranger, as well as a vocalist, in “Ben Platt Live At The Palace” for the limited run on Broadway, as well as Platt’s “Honeymind” Tour. Louis also appeared in Ben’s Netflix special Sing to Me Instead at Radio City Music Hall, and throughout the International Tour of the same title. Allen’s solo performances include a sold-out engagement of Allen Louis in Concert at the historical Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT (2018), his composer/debut concert at The Greenroom 42 in 2019, and a virtual concert entitled The Music of Allen René Louis that aired worldwide in 2020.
Louis served as Music Director for the 2020 Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge presented by The American Theatre Wing in partnership with The National Endowment for the Arts. In 2021, his vocal arrangements were featured on The Tony Awards’ “Broadway’s Back” Live telecast on CBS, the Australian Premiere production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “Choir Boy” at Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta in Spring of 2023, after serving in the same capacities for Yale Repertory Theatre’s Spring 2022 production of this lauded play. Louis is the Vocal Arranger and co-Music Arranger of the Broadway revival of The Wiz
In 2018, Louis was invited to be a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices. Soon after, he was appointed to BIV’s music team, where he worked closely with BIV’s founder and director, Michael McElroy. In January of 2021, he was chosen by McElroy to become BIV’s Associate Artistic Director, and officially stepped in as Artistic Director in July of 2021.
Louis has numerous projects in development, and hopes that his work will continue to inspire, uplift, and bring about positive change.
“Over the course of nearly 3 decades, through educational programming and live music, Broadway Inspirational Voices has seen the positive impact our work brings. Since 1994, service has been the root and foundation of our existence. In the midst of an epidemic, by way of rhythms, melodies and lyrics, it was our intention to heal, inspire, and bring hope to a community in pain.”
– Allen René Louis
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Angela Grovey
Angela Grovey has lit up the stage, been praised for her scene-stealing roles in film and TV, and is currently shooting her next season as a TV series regular in the Onyx Collective/Hulu series Reasonable Doubt.
A native of Sugarland, Texas, Grovey knew she wanted to be a performer since she was a child, but was bitten by the “bug” when she played a Lost Boy in a production of Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby. She went on to study musical theatre in Chicago at Roosevelt University’s Theatre Conservatory (CCPA) before being cast in Tumpie’s Dance at the Stages 2002 festival with her idol, Lillias White. She performed in regional theaters all over the United States, and some of her favorite New York credits include Merry Wives at Shakespeare in the Park, Wig Out at the Vineyard, and The Wiz at City Center with Ashanti.
Grovey made her Broadway debut in the original Broadway cast of Leap of Faith and then was featured in the original Broadway cast of Escape to Margaritaville She also appeared in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for two years before doing the national tours of The Play That Goes Wrong and Newsies.
Grovey made her way towards “screen” acting when she landed the role of “Earla,” the exuberant choir member in the musical movie Joyful Noise with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.
On TV, Grovey has appeared guest starring on such notable shows as Amazon’s Modern Love (season 2), NBC’s The Blacklist, HBO’s High Maintenance, Showtime’s Ray Donovan, Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Iron Fist as well as recurred on the hit NBC series 30 Rock
Angela joined Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) in 2009 and the Arts and Education Team in 2016, and in 2022 accepted the role of Executive Director of the organization.
“I have always searched for a balance in life that allows me to be an artist and to serve others, and I have found that with BIV. I found my people and defined my life’s purpose with BIV! I am honored that our founder Michael McElroy shaped me to continue his vision and help lead BIV into the next chapters.”
– Angela Grovey
ARTS & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Tasha Michelle Smith
Tasha Michelle is a singer, songwriter, actress and author originally from Pittsburgh, PA now residing in New York. Tasha has been found on many stages singing backup for artists such as, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Patti Labelle, Lalah Hathaway, and more recently can be seen singing on tour with Renee Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton) to name a few. Some of her notable regional theater credits include Being Alive, Into The Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, The Crawford Grill present Billie Holiday and Mahalia: The Mahalia Jackson Story.
Tasha loves mentoring youth interested in the Performing Arts and advocates for Performing Arts in schools and afterschool programs. When she is not performing on stage or mentoring youth Tasha writes children books with a focus on AfricanAmerican children and families as the lead characters under her own company Bean Bag Stories, where she has self published two books to date, Saturday My Favorite Day and Nobody Can Be Me. Tasha has been a member of Broadway Inspirational Voices for 17 years.
“BIV reminds me that artists have the power to heal, if we are willing to serve!” – Tasha Michelle
The Broadway Inspirational Voices Inspiration Award celebrates an individual whose compassion and humanity has made an impact on society as a whole. The BIV Inspiration honoree bravely tells their truth through their work with incomparable passion and vigor. They inspire all of us to navigate our social and moral consciousness as we strive for change, and find depth and beauty in everything we do.
AWARD
The Broadway Inspirational Voices Founder Award celebrates the deep and lasting commitment of an individual to the mission of this organization. The BIV Founder honoree’s humanity and brilliance has created and fostered an unbreakable legacy for who we are today and for generations to come. The Founder Award recipient’s contributions and impact encompass compassion, inclusion, service, and unity, inspiring us all to use our gifts to transform lives.
HONOREES
Michael McElroy
Michael McElroy (Librettist, Lyricist and Composer) is a tenure professor in Arts and Public Policy in Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. He also serves as Executive Director of Performance and Collaboration in the John A. Paulson Center. Previously, Michael served as Co-coordinator of Musical Theatre in the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University in Washington DC, and as Chair of the Department of Musical Theatre in the School of Music Theatre and Dance at University of Michigan. With his newest position, Michael returns home to NYU where he served for over ten years in various positions of leadership.
As an actor, Broadway credits include: Sunday in the Park with George (2017 revival), Next To Normal, Rent (Closing Cast), The Wild Party, Big River (Tony Nomination Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), The Who’s Tommy, Miss Saigon, Patti LuPone on Broadway, and High Roller Social Pleasure Club. Michael has performed in the cast of Candide with the New York Philharmonic, as well as National Tours of Next to Normal, Rent, Big River, Sarafina and many Off-Broadway shows including Some Men by Terrance McNally, Blue, Original cast of Violet (Drama Desk Nomination), and New York Shakespeare Festival’s Richard III starring Denzel Washington.
Michael is the 2025 awardee of The Johan Sundberg/Ingo R. Titze Award for Creativity in Voice Science. The award is given to an individual who has established a creative body of research, or creative entity that reflects the application of voice science i.e. basic, clinical or performance) to a voice-related profession or to society at large.
His arrangements were heard on Broadway in Disaster! The Musical and Street Corner Symphony and Off-Broadway in Our Lady of Kibeho at Signature Theatre and Three Mo Tenors at the Little Shubert Theatre. In television and film his arrangements have been featured on New Amsterdam, America’s Got Talent, Smash, the Tony Awards and on film in Why Did I Get Married, Legally Blonde 2, Preachin’ to the Choir, and A Home at the End of the World. Michael is the Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Broadway Inspirational Voices. He received a Grammy nomination in 2005 for his arrangement of “Joy to The World” on BIV’s first holiday CD: Great Joy! A Gospel Christmas. He has two Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre. A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Michael is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he received the 2020 Achievement Award for his work in the arts and education.
Tom Viola
Tom Viola is the former executive director of Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway and one of the nation’s leading industry-based nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.
During Viola’s 36-year tenure, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS provided more than $300 million for lifesaving medication, health care, nutritious meals, emergency assistance and more for people living with HIV/AIDS and other critical health issues. Viola led the organization’s growth into the single largest supporter of the Entertainment Community Fund, helping those in the performing arts and entertainment. His leadership helped establish the Fund’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, The Friedman Health Center, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and The Dancers’ Resource, as well as the expansion of the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center; Senior Services; Addiction and Recovery Services and more. In 2024, Broadway Cares awarded $6.5 million, bringing its support of the Fund since 1988 to $142 million.
Viola also championed the strategic expansion of Broadway Cares’ National Grants Program, which now annually awards grants to 450 social service organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Those grants reach food banks, health clinics, meal delivery programs, supportive housing residences, emergency financial assistance programs and more. In 2024, the National Grants Program provided more than $7.5 million to these agencies, awarding an additional $162 million since 1988.
A native of Pittsburgh, Viola is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music’s Musical Theater Program at University of Cincinnati. He performed in regional theaters and worked as a freelance writer until 1987 when he was hired by Actors’ Equity Association for what was to be a series of writing assignments. In 1988 he became executive assistant to Equity’s thenpresident, Colleen Dewhurst, and administrative director of the newly created Equity Fights AIDS, until its merger with Broadway Cares in 1992.
Viola served as managing director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS until 1996, when he was named executive director. Viola retired in December 2024 and will support the organization through 2025 as senior consultant for grants. In 2010, Viola was recognized by the Tony Awards with the Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre for “the leadership, advocacy and creativity through which he has mobilized the theater community’s response to AIDS and other critical health issues” as executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Viola served on the board of the Entertainment Community Fund from 1996 to 2024 where he chaired the Human Services Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee. In November 2024, Viola was presented with the Entertainment Community Fund’s Medal of Honor.
He’s also been honored with the Patrick Quinn Award for Distinguished Service from Actors’ Equity, the Sandy Fund Award from the Humane Society of New York, the Howard Ashman Award from GMHC, The Mosaic Award for Distinguished Alumni from the University of Cincinnati. He has been “sainted” by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and received special awards for lifetime achievement from Treatment Action Group, Tectonic Theatre Project and Encore Community Services.
Congratulations to Broadway Inspirational Voices on its 30th anniversary and to tonight’s impeccable honorees:
Michael McElroy, BIV’s founder and our longtime pal; and Tom Viola, our dear friend and recently retired executive director. We proudly stand with BIV in your work to use music to inspire hope and change lives.
broadwaycares.org
PROGRAM
WELCOME & OPENING
“Why I Said Yes!” Michael McElroy & Tom Viola
“Something Good”
Music & Lyrics Anthony Brown
Featuring Marcus Paul James & Broadway Inspirational Voices
Opening Remarks
Angela Grovey, Broadway Inspirational Voices Executive Director
Allen René Louis, Broadway Inspirational Voices Artistic Director
BIV @ PROGRAM PRESENTATION
“Improv to the Beat”- The basics of songwriting through Improv
Angela Grovey, Shabana Hassan, BS
PRESENTATION OF THE INSPIRATION AWARD
“An Affirming Yes” Tom Viola
Ariana DeBose, Inspiration Award Presenter
“You’re All I Need To Get By”
Music & Lyrics: Ashford & Simpson
Arrangement: Allen René Louis
Featuring Sara Bareilles, Avery Wilson, & Broadway Inspirational Voices
Tom Viola, Inspiration Award Recipient
SONGS IN THE KEY OF ME PROGRAM PRESENTATION
Tasha Michelle, Director of Arts & Education
Theresa Walker-Greer
“Francis: The Mayor of Joy”
Music & Lyrics: Leslie Carrara Rudolph & Paul Rudolph
Soloist: Lolly
Featuring Leslie Carrara Rudolph, Dev, Jen Malenke, Paul Williams, Nikisha Williams
PRESENTATION OF THE FOUNDER AWARD
“Raised to Say ‘Yes’,” Michael McElroy
Phylicia Rashad, Founder Award Presenter
PROGRAM
“Changed”
Music & Lyrics: Walter Lee Hawkins
Featuring Joseph Joubert, Adriane Lenox, Virginia Woodruff & Broadway Inspirational Voices
Featuring Alex Newell & Broadway Inspirational Voices
SARA BAREILLES
Sara Bareilles is an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer, activist, and New York Times best-selling author whose accolades to date include two Grammy® Awards, three Tony® Award nominations, and three Primetime Emmy® Award nominations. As a recording artist and songwriter, she has sold more than 3 million albums and 15 million singles in the U.S., and her songs have been streamed more than 3.5 billion times worldwide. On Broadway, she composed music and lyrics for Waitress, stepping into the lead role both on Broadway and in the West End. Other musical theater credits include her Tony-nominated performance as ‘The Baker’s Wife’ in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods, a song on the Tony Award-nominated score for SpongeBob SquarePants, and an Emmy Award-nominated appearance as Mary Magdalene in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live. She plays Dawn Solano on the Emmynominated musical comedy series “Girls5eva”, the third season of which is streaming now on Netflix, and is currently at work on a musical theater adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s best-selling novel The Interestings, alongside author Sarah Ruhl.
DAVID “BS” BRADSHAW
Active since the last days of record stores, David “BS” Bradshaw is an emceeing, songwriting, and beatboxing NYC luminary. An artist, educator, curriculum developer, and mental health advocate, BS is a performance and facilitation Swiss Army Knife as versatile as the combinations of words you can ascribe to his name.
An accomplished freestyler, BS is a 6x Freestyle Mondays Battle champ and performs with Tony Award winning Broadway crew Freestyle Love Supreme. He’s been featured on The Today Show, RedbullTV, 106&Park and has released music through Tommy Boy Records. As a programming specialist, he’s created team-building mental fitness offerings for entities like Facebook, Toyota, and Adobe. Most recently, you may have seen BS presenting at Harvard University or introducing legendary Hip-Hop producer Pete Rock on The Kelly Clarkson Show. A firm believer in the power of Hip-Hop culture as a vehicle for healing and growth, BS develops and facilitates freestyle, songwriting, beatboxing, and loop station production programs for humans of all ages and circumstances, including incarcerated youth, special needs populations, and political refugees.
ANEESA FOLDS
ANEESA FOLDS can be heard as CLEON on the Warriors Album by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Elisa Davis. Trading Places (Billie Rae Valentine), Co-Founders (Esata Thompson). Broadway: Freestyle Love Supreme. Off-Broadway: Sistas: The Musical. Regional: Vegas Residency of Freestyle Love Supreme, A.C.T, North Shore Music Theatre, Arrow Rock Lyceum. National tour: Ragtime. Film/VO: Alma’s Way (PBS Kids), Vivo (Netflix), tick, tick…BOOM! (Netflix) Features include Disney Channel, Sesame Street, and Rolling Stone. Aneesa will star in her one woman show “WHY AM I HERE” this summer at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
MARCUS PAUL JAMES
Marcus Paul James (MPJ) has been BIV’s Director of External Communications/former Media Director for almost 16 years. Career wise, MPJ has been seen as Camel in Broadway’s Water For Elephants, Otis Williams in Broadwayʼs Ainʼt Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations, Motown The Musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning In the Heights, and Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award-winning RENT. Also, his TV/Film credits include Collateral Beauty, RENT: Filmed Live, The Wiz Live!, Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning The Greatest Showman, tick, tick... BOOM! on Netflix, Dear Evan Hansen, In the Heights, and Apple TVʼs film Spirited. As a recording artist, his albums are available on Spotify, iTunes, and all streaming platforms. IG/TW/FB @marcuspauljames. Booking and inquiries at www.marcuspauljames.com.
JOSEPH JOUBERT
Joseph Joubert is a native New Yorker and Grammynominated musician who’s well known as a pianist, arranger, orchestrator, Broadway conductor, and music director. Mr. Joubert was music supervisor, orchestrator and co-arranger for The Wiz Broadway Revival. He’s currently the Music Director and Orchestrator for RoundAbout’s Pirates of Penzance opening this April. In addition he’s co-orchestrator of Alan Menken’s Hercules. His Broadway orchestration credits include: Caroline or Change, The Color Purple (Drama Desk Nomination), Disaster, Violet (Drama Desk Nomination) and Leap of Faith. He was Musical Director for Berry Gordy’s Motown The Musical and was assistant conductor for Nice Work If You Can Get
It and Billy Elliot. He was guest conductor for Encore’s Tap Dance Kid. He has orchestrated and played for Respect starring Jennifer Hudson as well as conducting the score for Kris Bowers. Mr. Joubert is a soughtafter music director for Broadway stars and has collaborated with Cynthia Erivo, Deborah Cox, Ken Page, Norm Lewis and recently did a PBS special with Melissa Erico. Mr. Joubert was music supervisor and orchestrator for Classic Stage Company’s Carmen Jones starring Anika Noni Rose to rave reviews.
As a record producer and arranger/orchestrator he has worked with Diana Ross, George Benson, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Jennifer Holliday, Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross, Norm Lewis and Diane Reeves as well as classical singers including Denyce Graves, Esther Hinds, Harolyn Blackwell, Florence Quivar, Simon Estes, Angela Brown and Kathleen Battle. His orchestrations are used by symphonies across the USA including The New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia orchestras. He is a founding member of MUSE—Musicians United for Social Equity. He received a grammy nomination for Best Arrangement Accompanying A Vocal for the Broadway Inspirational Voices’ Great Joy.
Mr. Joubert is at home arranging and performing in any style from classical to pop, gospel to Broadway, spiritual to R&B. He has reinterpreted classic hymns on his solo piano CD Total Praise and most recent solo piano CD A Mighty Fortress Is Our God: The Joubert Experience released by GIA Publications. His published arrangements are performed all over the world. As Musical Director for Judy Collins for five years he performed with the London Symphony and many of the major American orchestras. At the request of the composer Coleridge Taylor Perkinson Mr. Joubert recorded Grass with the Chicago Sinfonietta on Cedille Records.
Born in New York City, the son of a Baptist minister, he began playing the piano at the age of eight and by age sixteen had made his Town Hall debut with full orchestra. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Dora Zaslavsky, and won the nationwide piano competition of the National Association of Negro Musicians in 1980.
GUEST ARTISTS
ADRIANE LENOX
Adriane Lenox was a founding member of Broadway Inspirational Voices. She is a veteran of the New York stage and has, as well, a number of TV and film credits in her long career. Not only has she been a member and soloist of Broadway inspirational voices but so has her daughter, Crystal Joy Zacharoff.
Adriane is married to Broadway dance music arranger Zane Mark, whose work is represented this season in BOOP, the Musical currently in previews.
NIJAH
Nijah, who occasionally goes by the stage name Starchii, loves to share her music and poetry at open mics. She has performed all over New Jersey, but is most often showcased in Newark. Through imagery and storytelling, she uses her emotions to speak from the heart, and to the hearts of those who need it most. She strives to create a positive impact on the community by reminding us that “No matter what we are going through alone, there is always someone who knows exactly how you feel.”
LESLIE CARRARA-RUDOLPH
Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is an multifaceted entertainer, artist, voice actor, and educator best known for her work puppeteering Abby Cadabby on Sesame Street, for which she has received 7 Emmy nominations and one win in 2025, for outstanding performer in a children’s series. Leslie’s BA degree from SF State in “Child Development Through the Arts” along with her outreach work inspired her to create “Humor With A Heart,” an entertainment company that specializes in helping communities navigate life creatively. Leslie has a comedy cabaret series in NY called “Bizarre Brunch” which features her sidekick Lolly Lardpop. Leslie is honored to be working with Broadway Inspirational Voices and Ronald McDonald House on this project so near and dear to her heart and life’s work.
GUEST ARTISTS
LOLLY LARDPOP
Lolly Lardpop has been spreading Joy for 25 years (even though she’s only 5). Lolly has never stopped following her heART or lost her determination to make a difference in this world by being a fearless friend, standing up to bullies, shining a light on truth and helping everyone to follow their dreams and navigate life creatively. Lolly has received 2 Jim Henson Grants and an UNIMA citation of excellence for her musical Wake Up your Weird, created a cabaret series called Bizarre Brunch, and stars in her very own comedy podcast called “Lolly’s Radio Playdate.” When she is not eating candy, hugging dogs, or making art, she’s performing in schools, doing outreach with Humor With A Heart, volunteering for the Dystonia foundation, The Jay Fund, Art House Astoria, Broadway Flea, Kids Comic Con, Manhattan Star Academy, and playing bedside with little warriors battling illness. Lolly ALWAYS says Yes! Something Leslie and Lolly’s fairy Drag Mother The “Miss Coco Peru” taught her long ago. “Every moment can be a moment that lasts forever in your heart.” Being here with Broadway Inspirational Voices is a dream come true, A forever moment she will cherish in her heart. Lolly dedicates this performance to Francis, Lucy, Theo, and Cole.
PAUL RUDOLPH
Paul Rudolph is a composer, arranger, instrument builder, and vocal music director/recordist/composer for Sesame Street, where he received 3 Emmy nominations for Music Direction, and won 3 Emmys for music editing. Music direction/composition/arranger credits include Sesame Street (HBO/PBS) (includes TV, web, live shows and app content), Nature Cat (PBS), Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix) Toca Boca, Heather Henson, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Martin P. Robinson’s All Hallows’ Eve, the Jim Henson Company, Muppets Tonight (ABC), Jerry Nelson’s original CD Truro Daydreams. He also composes multi-media pieces for his percussion performance art group GLANK, using found object metal to create unique sounds.
AVERY WILSON
Avery Wilson is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Wilson first gained notice when he was 16 years old, as a contestant on season 3 of “The Voice” in 2012, where he was a standout performer on Team Cee Lo Green. His talent caught the eye of music industry professionals, leading to a recording contract with RCA Records and later signing with Clive Davis.
As a solo recording artist, Wilson has released multiple singles which reached the top twenty on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart; including the first single from his debut album in 2015, “If I Have To,” and his hit single in 2024, “Kiss the Sky.” His music blends elements of R&B, soul, and pop, showcasing his versatility as an artist. Avery made his Broadway debut starring in the revival of The Wiz as the Scarecrow, which earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for the production’s soundtrack. Avery has worked alongside Usher, Babyface, Christina Aguilera, and the late Quincy Jones. He has made special appearances performing at the BET Awards, NAACP awards, EssenceFest, and NPR’s Tiny Desk series. He recently performed with the New York Pops for Mr. Davis’ 41st birthday gala, “The Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Tribute to the Legendary Clive Davis” at Carnegie Hall.
ANNOUNCER: STEVE FRENCH
Steve French is honored to return to his BIV family as an announcer. A Drama Desk Award-winning singer and actor, Steve’s voice has been heard on hundreds of TV and radio commercials, as well as in video games, National Geographic Documentaries, and even as the host of the official Unsolved Mysteries podcast. But his most meaningful roles to date are “Allison’s Husband” and “Oscar’s Dad.” For more of his work, visit: www.stevefrenchvo.com IG: @ stevefrenchvofor Mr. Davis’ 41st birthday gala, “The Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Tribute to the Legendary Clive Davis” at Carnegie Hall.
GUEST PRESENTERS
ARIANA DEBOSE
Ariana DeBose is an award-winning actress renowned for her dynamic roles onstage and in film and television. She gained worldwide recognition for her groundbreaking performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, which earned her an Academy Award, BAFTA, Critics Choice, and SAG Awards. With this win, she became the first openly queer Afro-Latina to receive an Academy Award. Her performance was universally praised, with Variety calling her a “radiant force of nature” and Forbes declaring it a “star-making” turn.
DeBose most recently starred opposite Ke Huy Quan in Universal’s action-romance LOVE HURTS. Her upcoming feature film projects include Lear Rex and Tow, the latter for which she also serves as executive producer. Her other recent films include Matthew Vaughn’s action film Argylle (Apple/Universal), Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s space thriller I.S.S., Disney’s 100th anniversary animated film Wish, Kraven the Hunter (Sony Pictures) and House of Spoils (Blumhouse/Prime Video). Currently, DeBose is in production on the Prime Video series adaptation of Patricia Cornell’s Scarpetta, starring opposite Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis.
For the past three years, DeBose has hosted the Tony Awards, earning critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Variety Special” in 2021. That same year, she starred in Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+), and appeared in Ryan Murphy’s The Prom (Netflix), alongside Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman.
On Broadway, DeBose is perhaps best known for her Tony-nominated role as Disco Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, and for being part of the original cast of Hamilton. She has also appeared in Pippin, Motown The Musical, Bring It On: The Musical, and Company. A passionate advocate, DeBose serves on the International Board of Covenant House, supporting homeless LGBTQ youth.
PHYLICIA RASHAD
A two-time Tony Award winner (A Raisin in the Sun and Skeleton Crew), Ms. Rashad’s directing credits include Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Our Lady of 121st Street; Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky; August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (2014 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Director), and Fences; Paul Oakley Stovall’s Immediate Family; Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun; The Roommate; and Four Little Girls. Producing credits include the recent revival of Ossie Davis’s Purlie Victorious on Broadway and the PBS film The Old Settler. Ms. Rashad is Dean Emerita of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University.
SETH RUDETSKY
Seth began working on Broadway as a pianist for shows like Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera. He soon connected with Hearts and Voices, an organization that brings live weekly performances to hospitalized people with AIDS and began volunteering for them in 1992, performing at: Rivington House, Roosevelt Island Hospital, the prison ward at St. Clare’s Hospital and the Cardinal Cooke AIDS ward.
In 2001, he produced and conducted “Dreamgirls” starring Heather Headley, Audra McDonald and Lillias White, the first fall concert for The Actors Fund, which was recorded on Nonesuch Records and raised almost $1 million for The Fund. He followed it with many more Actors Fund concerts including “Hair” with Jennifer Hudson, Adam Pascal, Billy Porter, and many more which was recorded by Ghostlight Records and nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004. Also for the Actors Fund, he starred opposite Sutton Foster in “They’re Playing Our Song” and hosted and played piano for an array of divas for their 2009 “Nothing Like A Dame” concert with Betty Buckley, Stephanie J. Block, Audra McDonald, Kelli O’Hara and Bebe Neuwirth. Seth has hosted, music directed and helped produce concerts raising money and awareness for organizations like The Humane Society of NY, Harvest Home, Broadway Green Alliance, Broadway Votes and, with his new organization, The Jewish Broadway Alliance, he recently joined producers Amanda Lipitz and Henry Tisch to help produce “Shabbat on Broadway” and the Times Square Menorah Lighting video of “Tomorrow/Maoz Tzur.”
As a writer, he was nominated for three Emmy Awards for comedy writing on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and is the author of three volumes of “Seth’s Broadway Diary” which has tons and tons of inside Broadway stories, “My Awesome Awful Popularity Plan” and its sequel “The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek” (published by Random House). Recently, he authored “Musical Theatre For Dummies,” which is also available as an audio book.
Seth and his husband James produced the all-star Broadway for Orlando recording of “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” featuring, among others, Carole King, Gloria Estefan, Sara Bareilles, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Billy Porter. The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reached #1 on iTunes, and raised over $100,000 for the LGBT Center of Orlando. Seth and James also organized the group to sing at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. He is the afternoon Broadway host on SiriusXM Radio and co-wrote and co-starred in “Disaster!” on Broadway. Currently, he is touring with his one-man comedy shows and his Broadway concert series featuring stars like Jessie Mueller, Audra McDonald and Norbert Leo Butz. He and his husband, James, run Seth’s Big Fat Broadway Cruise which is setting sail to Alaska in August and the Canary Islands in October.
JAMES WESLEY JACKSON
In addition to conceiving the idea for Broadway for Orlando, James conceived (and co-produced with Seth) the first-ever benefit on Broadway for foster youth. James recently produced and co-hosted with Seth their 10th annual Voices: Stars for Foster Kids benefit for You Gotta Believe, which helps older foster children find forever families. In response to concerns that marginalized people would suffer after 2016’s presidential election, James co-produced and co-hosted with Seth the first of this very concert series. It was held at The Town Hall in New York, New York on January 20, 2017.
Over the course of the series (13 in all), some of entertainment’s biggest stars, including Barry Manilow, Vanessa Williams, Chita Rivera, Melissa Manchester, Melissa Benoist, and Grant Gustin, generously lent their voices to raise money for national organizations dedicated to protecting civil rights, women’s health, and environmental protection, in theaters around the country.
In March 2020, in response to the effects of COVID-19 on the performing arts community, James and Seth created the charity livestream “Stars in the House,” producing over 500 episodes and raising $1.3 million for the Entertainment Community Fund and over $600,000 for dozens of other charities. Also in 2020, James and Seth produced the all-star recording of “Georgia On My Mind” to help raise awareness for Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight organization’s work for the January 5, 2021 run-off Senate election in Georgia. They also produced a special video celebrating the Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired during the January 20, 2021 Inaugural Special.
As a writer, James wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed offBroadway play Unbroken Circle, starring Eve Plumb and Tony nominees Anika Larsen and Jennifer Simard. He also wrote Art and Science, a comedy-drama dealing with the generational differences between two gay men. It starred Tony nominees Tony Sheldon and John Tartaglia.
James was also proud to be one of the lead producers on Broadway of his husband’s musical, Disaster! James and Seth are the proud recipients of the National Leadership Award from the LGBTQ Task Force for their work on Broadway for Orlando’s “What the World Needs Now is Love.” For their work on “Stars in the House,” they received a special Drama Desk Award, the Board of Directors MAC Award, the Founders Award for Resilience from the Cancer Support Community, and a Gotham Icon Award from the Museum of the City of New York. They are the most recent recipients of the TDF Founders Award.
THE CHOIR
SOPRANOS
LaDonna Burns
Patti Butler
Casey Erin Clark
Laura Dean
Stephanie Fisher
Tanesha Gary-Stickney
Alexa Green
Kimberly JaJuan
ALTOS
Romelda Teron Benjamin
Ta’Rea Campbell
Danielle Chambers
Kayla Coleman
Allyson Kaye Daniel
Adee David
Angela DeCicco
Jennifer Malenke
Brandi Chavonne Massey
Tasha Michelle
Nicole Sutherland
Gayle Turner
Robin S. Walker
Nikisha Williams
Virginia Woodruff
Lucia Giannetta
Andrea Green
Candice Helfand-Rogers
Vanessa A Jones
Hannah Juliano
Terri O’Neill
Montria Walker
TENORS/BARITONES/BASSES
Dev
Chris Dilley
Paul Ianniello
Layke Jones
Darryl Jordan
BAND
MD/KEYS 1: Kareem Matcham
KEYS 2: Winchel St. Fleur
BASS: Terrell McCollin
GUITAR: Walter Williams IV
DRUMS: Sandchell St. Fleur
Monroe Kent III
Michael Seelbach
Will Stone
Paul Trenier
Christopher Zelno
PRODUCTION TEAM
Concert Directors/Writers: Allen René Louis, Angela Grovey, Tasha Michelle Smith
Front of House Management: Michelle Liu Coughlin, Mae Schuberth
Volunteer Coordinators: Mae Schuberth, Alana Knobel
Venue Decorator: Rob Sutton
Sound Equipment: Gibson Entertainment Services
Concert Videographer: Matthew Echelman, Victor Pickens
Graphic Design: Nick Bringhurst, Marcus Paul James
Photographer: Sub/Urban Photography
ASL Interpreters: Pro Bono ASL
BROADWAY INSPIRATIONAL VOICES STAFF
Artistic Director: Allen René Louis
Executive Director: Angela Grovey
Director of Operations: Anna R. Kaltenbach
Fundraising and Events Manager: Danielle Wolfrum
Director of External Communications: Marcus Paul James
Media Director: Robert H Fowler
Social Media & Branding: Shaunice Maudlyn Alexander
Arts and Education Programs Director: Tasha Michelle Smith
Arts and Education Operations: Tiffany Cole
Membership Director: Robin S. Walker
Accountant: My Fiscal Office
BIV Board Liaison: Terri O’Neil
ARTISTIC TEAM
Music Director: Kareem Matcham
Associate Music Director: Ben Roseberry
Choir Directors: Chris Dilley, Dr. Darryl Jordan, Allen René Louis, Nikisha Williams
Section Leaders: Laura Dean, Danielle Chambers, Paul Ianniello
Music Team:
Transcriber/Alto Vocal Captain: Adee David
Soprano Vocal Captain: Casey Erin Clark
Tenor/Baritone/Bass Vocal Captain: Paul Trenier
BIV Stylist: Ta’Rea Campbell
Disney on Broadway proudly INSPIRATIONALBROADWAYsalutes VOICES and all of tonight’s honorees
SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
30th Season Sponsors
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids
Cause Strategy Partners
Kevin M. Ryan
Dan’l Mackey Almy
Great Joy Sponsors
David Stone & Michael Seelbach
Inspiration Sponsors
Abbeville Press
Halcyon Design
Serino Coyne, Situation Group, AKA, SpotCo, Super Awesome Friends, The Pekoe Group, Marathon Digital and RPM
Hope Sponsors
Disney Theatrical Productions Academy of Theatre Arts
Ostar Productions
Julie McGovern Voyzey and John Voyzey
Transformation Sponsors
Bruce Cohen, Gabe Catone, and Ilaria Cohen Catone
Black Theatre United
John Gore Organization
Nederlander Organization
Morris E. Gaines & Richard H. Martin
Diane Scott Carter
The Shubert Organization
And special thanks to our Joy & Friends of BIV sponsors.
SPECIAL THANKS
Brett Bingman and Amber Johnson
Daniel Brodie, Brodie Graphics
McKenzie Schmeling, Matthew Schwalm, Brittany LeGuelaff, and the rest of the City Winery Team
Christopher McCrewell
VOLUNTEERS
Dev, Sherry Dean Curreri, Clif Dorris, Hannah Ford, Judith Franklin, Marie Gutierrez, Mara Jill Herman, Naiomi Israel, Zonya Love, Colin MacGeorge, Karina Martinez, Peter McIntosh, Debbie McIntyre, ConRAD Neblett, Tavia Rivée, Haliya Roberts, Julia Schemmer, Vivienne Thomas, Tatum Alexandria Thompson, Helen White, Katherine Winter
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The land on which this performance takes place is part of the ancient homeland and traditional territory of the Lenape people. The Lenape (also referred to as the Delaware) were among the first Native Americans to come in contact with Europeans. Forced off their ancestral land, they now have communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. We remember and reflect on the losses suffered by Indigenous people at the hands of European colonizers and we acknowledge the enslaved peoples and many others whose names we do not know who helped to build this city.
