Just one week and one day after the tragedy in Orlando, FL, the Broadway community came together for Broadway Sings for Pride, the annual LGBT event, this year benefitting the Tyler Clementi Foundation. Through song, dance, motivational speeches and even a stand-up routine, performers championed diversity and equality, promoting the idea of love and acceptance for all.
The program began, not unlike last week鈥檚 Tony Awards, on a somewhat somber note, with Wicked鈥檚 Daniel Quadrino performing 鈥淚magine鈥� as a tribute to those who lost their lives in Orlando.
Dante Melucci, feisty drummer Freddy in Broadway鈥檚 School of Rock, then kicked off the evening proper with a rockin鈥� rendition of 鈥淎merican Idiot,鈥� and a myriad of Broadway鈥檚 brightest followed suit. Highlights include Christiane Noll belting 鈥淏ack to Before鈥濃攖he Ragtime showstopper that earned her a Tony nod鈥擮ff-Broadway鈥檚 Brian Craft, whose strong connection to the lyrics of Yank! The Musical鈥檚 鈥淛ust True鈥� came across in his delivery and N鈥橩enge鈥檚 show-stopping rendition of 鈥淒efying Gravity,鈥� which (deservedly) earned the first standing ovation of the night. Also praiseworthy was Trevor Braun, a former Flounder from The Little Mermaid, who proved he鈥檚 no longer a guppy with his take on Hedwig鈥檚 鈥淲ig in a Box.鈥�
Other Broadway performers, like Angelo Rios, Mia Gentile and A. J. Shively, took the pop route, offering tunes by Katy Perry, the Beatles and Gavin DeGraw, respectively. Priscilla alum Amaker Smith channeled his inner Josh Groban and gave us 鈥淵ou Raise Me Up,鈥� another selection dedicated to Orlando victims.
Most captivating were the songs with an inspirational message. One such example came when Bebe Neuwirth entered the room, reminding us all that despite trying times, 鈥淭he World Goes 鈥楻ound.鈥� Equally stirring was NJ Idol winner Lindsay Cherin鈥檚 rendition of Smash鈥檚 鈥淭hey Just Keep Moving the Line,鈥� whose lyrics take on an entirely new meaning when considered in the context of LGBT rights.
Later in the evening, Wicked鈥檚 Eden Espinosa introduced honoree Ruth Coker Burks, recognized for singlehandedly caring for鈥攁nd burying鈥擜IDS patients abandoned by their families and their doctors. Burks has cared for nearly 1,000 people since she began her mission in the 鈥�80s. Radio personality Valerie Smaldone later brought up honoree Jane Clementi, of the Clementi Family Foundation, who discussed the progress of the Day One campaign, which has reached a staggering 10,000 individuals throughout the past year.
Throughout the evening, non-Broadway talent also moved the room with stories of strength. Notably, Avery D. Wilson, Mister United States 2016, shared a powerful acronym for love鈥斺淟iving Optimistic Values Everyday鈥濃攚hile supermodel Patricia Vel谩squez offered blunt honesty: long-eradicated fears of being cast aside for her sexual orientation returned in the aftermath of last week鈥檚 tragedy. However, despite the fact that we may once again be fearful, Val谩squez urged us, as she does, 鈥渘ot to live in it.鈥�
It鈥檚 an incredibly important message for anyone, but especially pertinent to members of the theatre community. Why? 鈥淪o much of the Broadway community is the LGBT community,鈥� explains Lesli Margherita, who co-hosted the evening with Tommy Didario. 鈥淚 really don鈥檛 think there would be a Broadway community without them, so it鈥檚 imperative we show support.鈥� To that end, acknowledging 鈥淏roadway has always been ahead of the curve on social change,鈥� Todd Buonopane appreciates the fact that 鈥渋n doing what I do, I鈥檓 allowed鈥攁nd expected鈥攖o be out and proud.鈥�
But it鈥檚 Bebe (who else?) who really drives the point home. With a smile curling at the corner of her mouth, Neuwirth states, simply, that despite theatrical billing or clout, 鈥淲e are not soloists. 鈥� We鈥檙e all in this together.鈥�
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Matt Smith is a writer and theatre enthusiast based in New York. For more information or further inquiry, including additional writing samples, he encourages you to visit .
