Broadway Backwards 5

God bless Robert Bartley, the director-choreographer of "Broadway Backwards," the annual fundraiser for NYC's GLBT Community Center and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This marked the concert-extravaganza's first time playing Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre instead of Roundabout's somewhat smaller American Airlines Theatre. The event actually bears more in common with other variety shows that benefit BC/EFA such as Gypsy By the Year and the Easter Bonnett Competition than with most other Broadway-themed concert fundraisers.

Its ingenious concept involves having male Broadway performers sing songs written originally for women, and vice versa. But that's not what makes the concert so damn impressive. Nearly every production number is aided by a large chorus, all clad in elaborate costumes and performing inventive and athletic choreography. And every song is treated as if it is a one-act play, complete with new characters and a new plot from a same-sex angle. The revue even had an overall story arc about Florence Henderson, who served as its host, being arrested, sent to prison, and then on trial. Silly, yet so amazing.

True, many of the production numbers looked a bit underrehearsed, and some of the vocal work was shaky since female singers were performing songs written for male voices and vice versa. But on the whole, it was a marvelously produced, extremely passionate concert that I would not miss out on next year. Weirdly, my favorite moment was also one of its most smallest: a warm Len Cariou and a cool Lee Roy Reams performing the duet "I Remember It Well" from "Gigi." It was just beautiful. And I loved the Lauren Bacall ad-lib. And Douglas Sills' "I Could Have Danced All Night" was wonderful too.

Below is the full set list, which I have copied and pasted from Jesse21's post on All That Chat.

The Program:

Host: Florence Henderson

"Paris Original" (How to Succeed) - Robert Cuccioli with Anthony & Will Nunziata, Ann Harada & Full Ensemble

"Shipoopi" (The Music Man) - Florence Henderson, Richard Kind and chorus

"Marian the Librarian" (The Music Man) - Becki Newton with Barbara Angeline & chorus

"What Is It About Her?" (The Wild Party) - Julia Murney

"Come Up To My Place" (On the Town) - Dan Butler & Hunter Ryan Herdlicka

"I'm Not At All in Love" (The Pajama Game) - Gary Beach and male chorus

"I Remember It Well" (Gigi) - Len Cariou & Lee Roy Reams

"Too Many Mornings" (Follies) - Tonya Pinkins

"Conga" (Wonderful Town) - Tony Goldwyn & male chorus

"As Long As He Needs Me" (Oliver!) - Aaron Lazar

"My Gentle Young Johnny" (Tenderloin) - male chorus

"There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This" (Sweet Charity) - Nick Adams, Timothy W. Bish & Adam Perry

INTERMISSION

"Waltz" - chorus

"I Could Have Danced All Night" (My Fair Lady) - Douglas Sills & male chorus

"Johanna" (Sweeney Todd) - Martine Allard

"Tom, Dick or Harry" (Kiss Me Kate) - Bruce Vilanch with Ward Billeisen, Patrick O'Neill & Antuan Raimone

"Secret Love" / "The Girl Next Door" (Calamity Jane / Meet Me in St. Louis) - Michele Lee

"The Man That Got Away" (A Star is Born) - Raúl Esparza

"Out There" (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - Lea Salonga

"Where You Are" (Kiss of the Spider Woman) - Mario Cantone & male chorus

"Luck Be A Lady" (Guys and Dolls) - Florence Henderson & female chorus

"Children Will Listen" (Into the Woods) - Titus Burgess with Youth Pride Chorus & Full Ensemble