On February 7, 2011, Clay Aiken participated in the 6^th edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS.  Held at the beautiful Longacre Theatre, the show was filled with an all-star cast that included Tony Award winners Hinton Battle, Len Cariou, Alan Cumming, Debra Monk, Bebe Neuwirth, Denis O’Hare, Karen Olivo and Lillias White, Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham and American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS is an amazing benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York.  In 2011, the concert raised a record-breaking $281,243 for the two organizations.

According to the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids website:

BROADWAY BACKWARDS reinterprets the songs of musical theater by featuring women singing songs originally written for men and men singing songs written for women. By keeping the lyrics intact, including the pronouns, each song takes on an entirely new dimension. It’s Broadway in a whole new key.

I remember the benefit concert very well.  I was lucky enough to be at the event and see and hear all the excitement of the night.

The obvious highlight for this Clay Aiken fan was seeing Clay shine on the Broadway stage as he performed “Home” from The Wiz.  He started quietly and slowly built to a powerful climax.  He sang from his heart and the audience was moved by his outstanding performance.  As the applause continued, Clay returned to the stage for a second bow.  Appropriately, Clay seemed right at “Home” on the Broadway stage.

I am so glad that I was able to attend this wonderful sold-out concert.  It was a special evening that I will never forget.

I hope you take a moment and watch the following video of the wonderful performance by Clay Aiken. 

It is outstanding.

Do you want to see Clay return to Broadway some time?