Following the tragic events that took place June 12 at Pulse nightclub, where 49 people were murdered and another 53 injured, the Broadway and Orlando theatre communities are uniting to perform what's billed as “a healing night of music and dance to honor the 49 victims.” The 7:30 PM concert will be held in the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
Among those previously announced for the evening are Chita Rivera (two-time Tony Award winner), Norbert Leo Butz (two-time Tony Award winner), Kelli O’Hara (Tony Award winner), Jessie Mueller (Tony Award winner, currently in Waitress), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Tony Award winner, currently in Shuffle Along), Carmen Cusack (Bright Star), Andrea McArdle (original Annie), Lillias White (Tony Award winner), Andréa Burns (On Your Feet! The Musical – The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan), Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon), Joshua Henry (Shuffle Along), Keala Settle (Waitress), Anika Larsen (recently seen in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Justin Sargent (Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark) and Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!), as well as SiriusXM Broadway hosts Seth Rudetsky and Christine Pedi.
Net proceeds raised from the performance and upcoming CD and DVD will go to the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Hope and Help Center and Zebra Coalition.
Michael J. Moritz, Jr. (Tony Award nominee) will serve as music director. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Net proceeds raised from the performance (royalties and artist fees waived) will be donated equally between the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Hope and Help Center of Central Florida and Zebra Coalition. A forthcoming CD and DVD of the concert will also be available at BroadwayRecords.com, Amazon.com and more, with 100 percent of profits benefiting the three designated non-profit organizations. Visit frombroadwaywithlove.org to sign up to be notified when the CD and DVD become available.
Many of the artists participating in From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Orlando gathered at Avatar Studios June 15 in New York City for a benefit recording of the iconic 1965 song “What the World Needs Now Is Love” as part of the Broadway for Orlando charitable initiative. The record reached No. 1 on the iTunes song chart in its first week and broke into the Billboard Top 100 with no commercial radio play.
Tickets may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling (844) 513-2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando.
(Updated July 20, 2016)
