It is 1am in New York and I am just home from the Broadway Backwards Concert at the Longacre Theatre.

The concert tonight was simply amazing.  The talented people on the stage made this a night to remember

Everyone involved with the evening from the staff of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to the performers on stage made the patrons feel welcomed and appreciated.

One talented performer after another graced the stage.   There were several performances that stood out for me.

• Alan Cumming opened the show accompanied by four talented dancers. He sang “Don’t Tell Mama” from Cabaret. This man brought the house down with his comedic routine.
• “On The Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady was performed by Debra Monk.  This passionate singer put a new twist to the song with a fresh arrangement.
• Tony Yazbeck was a triple threat as a singer, actor, and dancer.  He performed “The Music and The Mirror” from A Chorus Line and was believable as the struggling actor that he portrayed.

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.

This picture is from the dress rehearsal.