Broadway Backwards lit up the Gershwin Theatre on March 10, and one of the night’s most unforgettable moments came courtesy of Adam Lambert. The Cabaret star and Queen frontman electrified the stage with a fierce, high-voltage take on “Acid Queen” from The Who’s Tommy, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The annual benefit, which flips the script on musical theatre classics in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community, raised an astounding $1,111,788 this year—shattering last year’s record by more than $194,000. All proceeds support Broadway Cares and New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.
Hosted once again by Broadway favorite and Tony nominee Jenn Colella (Suffs), the evening gathered a star-studded lineup including Bobby Conte (The Who’s Tommy), Lorna Courtney (& Juliet), Nikki Renée Daniels (Once Upon a Mattress), Eden Espinosa (Lempicka), J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot), Tituss Burgess (Oh, Mary!), Kelli O’Hara (Days of Wine and Roses), Joshua Henry (Into the Woods), Jordan Fisher (Urinetown), Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliott), Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd), and many more.
What started in 2006 as a small grassroots concert at The Center has since become one of Broadway’s most anticipated annual events. Over its 19 editions, Broadway Backwards has raised more than $7.9 million to support those affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses. This year’s production was helmed by creator Robert Bartley, with musical direction by Ted Arthur, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Nicholas Connors, and Nick Wilders, alongside choreography contributions from Amanda LaMotte and Adam Roberts.
Broadway Cares remains one of the nation’s most impactful nonprofit organizations within the theatre industry. Since 1988, it has raised more than $300 million to provide essential healthcare and services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening conditions across the United States.
