Broadway Cares launched a new annual concert event, Broadway Dream Roles, April 28 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (the current home of Moulin Rouge! The Musical).
The evening featured a mix of Broadway favorites and rising stars stepping into roles they have longed to play, but never had the opportunity to. Each performance had a story attached, whether it's a role the artist narrowly missed, a wish never voiced aloud, or more.
One of the performers was Tom Francis, who just picked up a 2025 Tony nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his work as Joe Gillis in the revival of Sunset Blvd. Watch Francis perform "One Song Glory" from the late Jonathan Larson's Rent in the video above. (Although Francis has not starred in the Tony-winning musical on Broadway or in the West End, he did play the role of Roger in a production at the U.K.'s Hope Mill Theatre.)
See photos from the event in the gallery below.
Erich Bergen
Jimin Moon
The company of Operation Mincemeat
The Broadway Boys
Damson Chola Jr.
Danny Whitman and Justin Wirick
Zachary Noah Piser
Jasmine Amy Rogers
Liz Callaway
Kara Young
Tom Francis
Jennifer Holliday
Lesli Margherita
Seth Rudetsky and Andrea Martin
Tony winner and 2025 Tony nominee Kara Young, who recently returned to Broadway in Purpose, hosted the evening.
Also taking part in the one-night-only event were Erich Bergen, currently co-starring in BOOP! The Musical; Emmy winner and Tony nominee Liz Callaway; Grammy and Tony winner Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role of Effie in Dreamgirls; Olivier winner Lesli Margherita, currently playing Tessie Tura in the revival of Gypsy; Jimin Moon, who understudies the role of Joe Gillis in Sunset; Zachary Noah Piser, who can currently be seen in Redwood; 2025 Tony nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers, who stars in the title role of Boop!; The Broadway Boys; two-time Tony winner Andrea Martin; David Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Natasha Hodgson, Jak Malone, and Zo毛 Roberts from the Tony-nominated Operation Mincemeat; and 2024 Jimmy Award winner Damson Chola Jr.
Broadway Cares is one of the nation鈥檚 leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares has awarded more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
Other annual Broadway Cares events include Red Bucket Follies, Broadway Backwards, Broadway Bares, the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction, and more.
The evening was produced by and benefits Broadway Cares. Visit .
