28th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition

Broadway’s brightest stars will come together to celebrate six weeks of fundraising with never-before-seen skits, songs and dances as #GypsyOfTheYear returns for its 28th year. Casts, crews and volunteers at Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions around the country will stand with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ iconic red buckets in hand accepting donations at theatre exits. Theatre enthusiasts on both sides of the bucket will have the opportunity to raise money for the most vulnerable among us, helping provide lifesaving medication, healthy meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance. In addition to priceless face time with cast members while they are collecting, audiences will have the opportunity to purchase autographed memorabilia and exclusive experiences in exchange for a donations at many of the shows. The fundraising efforts will culminate in two sensational days of original performances from Broadway’s best singers and dancers in the ensembles of shows, affectionately called “gypsies.” Awards will be presented to the top fundraisers and to the best presentation among the two days of performances. Gypsy of the Year will include guest appearances by the cast of Falsettos on Broadway – Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, Andrew Rannells, Anthony Rosenthal and Brandon Uranowitz; Robert Creighton, Cynthia Erivo, Lora Lee Gayer, Nick Kroll, Jessie Mueller, John Mulaney, Javier Muñoz, Megan Sikora and more. Judith Light, a longtime supporter of and friend to Broadway Cares, will return to lead a moment of silence for those we have lost. This year’s show will feature more than 150 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers. Shows scheduled to perform original numbers include Avenue Q, Chicago The Musical, The Color Purple Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Hamilton: An American Musical, The Lion King - Musical, ON YOUR FEET! The Musical, Cirque du Soleil Paramour, School of Rock the Musical, Waitress the Musical and WICKED The Musical. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo also is set to perform, representing Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Gypsy of the Year will include a celebratory send off to Jersey Boys, commemorating the blockbuster hit musical’s 11 years on Broadway before it closes January 15. The performance, written and directed by continuing original cast member Peter Gregus, will feature more than 60 of the show’s stars from past and present, including Mark Ballas, Richard Blake, Charl Brown, Andy Karl, Drew Seeley and Jarrod Spector. The opening number will feature a performance by the incomparable Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie and Margo Sappington, the trio known for originating the legendary “Turkey Lurkey Time” dance in 1968’s Promises, Promises. The number will be directed and choreographed by Al Blackstone, based on Michael Bennett’s original choreography, with music direction by Ted Arthur. A panel of distinguished judges will award best presentation honors at Tuesday’s performance. This year’s judges are James Barbour, Denée Benton, Clifton Davis, Harvey Evans, Todrick Hall, Lisa Lampanelli, Lesli Margherita, Mary Beth Peil and Lucas Steele. Also joining the panel are Lee Perlman and Peg Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by bidding on exclusive VIP packages at the 30th Annual #BroadwayFlea Market & Grand Auction in September. Host of SiriusXM Radio’s “On Broadway” channel Seth Rudetsky, Broadway’s biggest buff and longtime friend of Broadway Cares, will return to host the shows at the New Amsterdam, home to Disney’s smash hit Aladdin - The Musical. Since 1989, the 27 editions of Gypsy of the Year have raised $67.3 million to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.