Another thrilling collection of songs, sketches and dance numbers from the casts of current Broadway plays and musicals to celebrate the funds raised during the year for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Astonishingly, almost $4 million was collected this year.
Seth Rudetsky hosted and was at his funniest with wicked old audio tapes from his youth. One in particular from a stock production of GODSPELL for which he played piano and the girl singing "Bless the Lord" decided to spontaneously belt the final "so-high-only-dogs-can-hear-it" note in chest instead of head voice and failed dismally!
Original ANNIE Andrea McArdle surprised current "Annie" Lilla Crawford for a spine tingling duet of "Tomorrow".
Christine Pedi (with Michael Lavine at the piano) celebrated the impending LES MISERABLES movie with impressions of famous people singing the score, such as Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Fran Drescher, Joan Rivers, Eartha Kitt and Elaine Stritch.
A lonely cast member from MAMMA MIA lamented (to the tune of "Yesterday") that the show is no longer any fun because everyone is either texting, tweeting or playing Angry Birds.
The cast of CHICAGO recreated Fosse's "Sing Sing Sing" from DANCIN'
The MARY POPPINS cast presented The Land of Misfit Shows such as MURRAY POPPINS, THE BOOK OF MERMAN and (above) WAR WHORES.
Once again the LION KING company won the Best Presentation award for their thrilling choreography
A tribute to Fred Ebb closed the entertainment portion with the original cast of CURTAINS (including Aussie Sean Hingston in the pink shirt) reuniting and singing "Show People" as the cast
of CHICAGO danced behind them.
Ricky Martin, Katie Holmes (who appears to be nine foot tall) and Chita Rivera presented the final tallies. The most moving moment was the introduction of the judges, one of whom was John Kander. Before his introduction was even read out the applause for him swelled and turned into a spontaneous and lengthy standing ovation.
Highlights video below!
There was a party afterwards for Broadway Cares patrons at the upstairs room in Sardi's where I received my caricature. I went along as Jamie De Roy's guest and was at the same table as Barry Brown who, with his partner Fritz Holt, produced the original LA CAGE and the Lansbury GYPSY.
He'll be travelling to Australia as a guest of Ms Lansbury for her upcoming season of DRIVING MISS DAISY.
Head boy of BC/EFA Tom Viola made a thank you speech
enjoyed by Andrea McArdle and Seth Rudetsky
and then it was time for me to wander off and join my friend Joyce Breach to finally see THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD which I enjoyed immensely!!!!! An excellent day!
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