“Broadway Backwards” broke its own fundraising record with its 20th-anniversary show, bringing in a total of $1,223,681 in a one-night-only event at the Gershwin Theatre. The 2025 edition held the previous record of $1,111,788. Since its founding in 2006, “Broadway Backwards” has raised $10.9 million for Broadway Cares and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.
Funds from “Broadway Backwards” benefit the nonprofit organizations Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which supports AIDS-related causes around the United States, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, which offers advocacy, career development, healthcare and youth services across the five boroughs.
Tony Award nominee Jenn Colella hosted the 20th anniversary performance, which ran the gamut of Broadway talent, featuring new performances by Tony winners Jennifer Holliday and Len Cariou, and Tony nominees Robyn Hurder, Kate Baldwin, Michael McElroy and Andrew Rannells. Tony-winning Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Leslie Uggams closed the show with a rendition of “Not While I’m Around” from “Sweeney Todd” featuring the Tony-honored Broadway International Voices choir.
In addition to new performances, the 2026 edition revisited returning favorites from “Broadway Backwards”’ history, including an all-male take on “Chicago”’s “Cell Block Tango” which debuted at the 2015 concert. Colella and Tony winner Lauren Patten also revived their 2022 performance of “The Next Ten Minutes” from “The Last Five Years.” An ensemble including Bobby Conte, Bradley Dean, Felicia Finley, Jeigh Madjus, Wren Rivera, Alexandra Silber, Carson Stewart and Tony nominee John-Andrew Morrison performed a new rendition of “One Day More” from “Les Misérables” staged as a protest against the recent removal of the pride flag from Stonewall National Monument.
Produced by Broadway Cares, 2026’s edition of “Broadway Backwards” was directed by creator Robert Bartley, with music supervision by Ted Arthur and Mary-Mitchell Campbell, music direction by Steven Cuevas and choreography and co-direction by Adam Roberts with co-choreographers Amanda LaMotte and Colby Q. Lindemann. ARC’s Mark Brandon and Jarrett Reiche served as casting consultants, and E Sara Barnes as production stage manager.
The event also featured sound design by Marie Renee Foucher and Josh Maszle, lighting design by Jeff Croiter and Colleen Doherty, prop design by Jenna Snyder and Alexander Wylie and costume design by Kitty Cassetti, Jess Gersz, Alex Rocky and Tyler Carlton “T.C.” Williams. Longtime corporate partners City National Bank, the New York Times and United Airlines served as lead sponsors.
