7 Legendary Broadway Backwards Performances to Celebrate 20 Years

Broadway Backwards has been flipping the script on the musical theatre canon for 20 years, transforming beloved showtunes into bold celebrations of visibility, joy, and pride. Across two decades, familiar lyrics have taken on new meaning, fueled by daring storytelling and pure theatrical electricity.

The annual event, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, will be offered one night only March 23 at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at BroadwayCares.org.

As the annual benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and NYC’s LGBT Center (created and directed by Robert Bartley) returns for this milestone year, we’re revisiting seven iconic performances that capture the electric energy and inclusive spirit of Broadway Backwards—including a never-before-seen exclusive.

“Mein Herr” with Corbin Bleu in 2023

From East High to the Kit Kat Club, Corbin Bleu dazzled audiences with a show-stopping rendition of Cabaret’s “Mein Herr.” The thrilling, gender-flipped Kander and Ebb classic was brought to life with Bob Fosse’s iconic choreography, meticulously restaged by Mimi Quillin, turning the number into a jaw-dropping Broadway Backwards highlight.

“Bring on the Men” with Josh Young in 2014

Tony Award nominee Josh Young’s twist on Jekyll & Hyde’s “Bring on the Men” perfectly captures the spirit of Broadway Backwards, proving how a simple shift in point of view can create an irresistible moment of LGBTQ+ joy. Add in Young’s rich vocals and a stage full of sultry dancers, and you’ve got a performance for the ages.

EXCLUSIVE: “How It Ends” with Joy Woods in 2025

This performance lived in the Broadway Cares vault until now, emerging for the first time as a special 20th anniversary exclusive for Playbill. Tony nominee Joy Woods brought soaring, rapturous vocals to Big Fish’s “How It Ends,” as she foretells her own LGBTQ+ love story through tender, loving lyrics.

“All I Care About is Love” with Chita Rivera in 2016

As if Chita Rivera couldn’t get any more legendary, she delighted audiences with her sublime take on Chicago’s “All I Care About Is Love.” Pairing her irresistibly cheeky humor with a fabulously feathered ensemble, the result is pure Broadway Backwards iconography.

“Where You Are” with Gavin Creel and Andrew Rannells in 2019

The 2019 edition of Broadway Backwards opened with Kiss of the Spider Woman’s “Where You Are,” a jubilant invitation to celebrate from two of Broadway’s most beloved leading men, Andrew Rannells and the late Gavin Creel. The joyous number has since become a cherished tribute to Creel’s effervescent spirit, boundless charisma, and unmistakable zest for life.

“Listen” with Jordan Fisher and John McGinty in 2024

There wasn’t a dry eye in the theatre as Jordan Fisher and John McGinty unpacked a family’s misunderstandings around sexuality and deafness through the Dreamgirls film’s “Listen.” As McGinty signed and Fisher sang, the performance unfolded into a transcendent anthem of visibility.

“Make Them Hear You” with Cynthia Erivo in 2017

Before she was defying gravity, Cynthia Erivo was making her voice heard with the galvanizing Ragtime anthem “Make Them Hear You.” Joined by the Broadway Backwards ensemble, the performance was powered by Erivo’s spectacular vocals and deeply moving storytelling.

Francesca Toscano is the senior content manager at Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.