Broadway Bares 2022

Broadway Bares: XXX raised $1,893,715 with two standing-room-only performances at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The 30th anniversary celebration produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS immersed audiences in a risqué reverie of Broadway Bares’ history, revisiting highlights from Bares’ colorful 30-year past. The journey reimagined superheroes, mythology and fairy tales, peeked under the big top and behind mysterious doors and honored beloved stories of stage and screen. The trip down memory lane starred 170 dancers led by host Maulik Pancholy, who was assisted by Broadway Bares spirit guides Nathan Lee Graham and Lesli Margherita. Special guest appearances by Ariana DeBose, Ramin Karimloo Julianne Hough, Suzy Nakamura and Julie White filled the evening. “Community, unity and nudity” was the night’s anthem as lead vocalists Bonnie Milligan and Jason Tam and more than 20 dancers ushered the audience into the show. Bares Director Laya Barak, Executive Producer Nick Kenkel and Associate Director Jonathan Lee choreographed the number. The original number was written by Amanda Green and Lynne Shankel. In a finale that was “one-of-a-kind, no category,” Keirsten Nicole Hodgens, Andrea Macasaet, Brittney Mack and Courtney Mack of Broadway’s Six led an exhilarating finale choreographed by Gabriella Sorrentino. Making his Broadway Bares debut, Pancholy shared his nervousness about hosting, prompting Bares alums Graham and Margherita to arrive as dueling guides. DeBose shared her own advice on how to command the stage, after hosting the Tony Awards earlier this month. Time-traveling to 1992 to honor the first Broadway Bares, Jason Williams donned a color-blocked suit to lead a crew of overall-clad dancers in a spirited number. The number also featured Elliott Mattox in a solo striptease, as he radiated love from a large heart tattoo in the center of his chest. The lively romp was choreographed by Al Blackstone. Darius Wright found himself in the haunting and arousing Bares Academy after a car accident. With a crash of thunder he asked ‘Knock, Knock, Who’s Bare?’ in a throwback to 1995’s Broadway Bares. Daring to discover what was behind closed doors, Wright was consumed by sensual dancers including the bewitching Afra Hines. The number was choreographed by Stephanie Klemons. All eyes were on Elliott with 2 Ts’ circus in a tribute to Broadway Bares: The Barest Show on Earth. As ringmaster, they welcomed a naive Ryan VanDenBoom into the wonders of a freakshow-turned-peepshow, choreographed by Richard J. Hinds and Andrew Turteltaub with aerial choreography by Armando Farfan Jr. Paying homage to Black Panther and other Avengers straight from A Comic Strip, Collin Heyward led the group in an energized hip-hop number as a harness-wearing T’Challa. Choreographed by Jonathan Lee, the royal and racy number incorporated bombastic moves and stepping with canes. What began as a dramatic confrontation that harkened back to West Side Story became a romantic comedy set to Paul Simon’s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard.” Joe Beauregard and Michael Scott Gomez led the cheeky and playful number honoring Broadway Bares: Now Showing, choreographed by Michael Lee Scott and Tammy Colucci. In a Greek mythology-themed number inspired by Broadway Bares: Myth Behavior, lead Goddess Marie Rose Baramo captivated the crowd as her loyal subjects undressed her. She and lead God Justin Prescott tempted and teased the audience with ethereal moves choreographed by Chloe Davis. Tomás Matos and their magic mirror Brandon Stonestreet led a company resembling the shiny, poisonous red apples in a seductive style that resulted in Happy Endings. The lavish number was choreographed by Kellen Stancil. Akira Armstrong demonstrated that she is “plus size and fabulous,” in the scorching tribute to Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!, choreographed by Jessica Castro. Led by Christopher Hernandez and Shani Talmor, the Salsa-infused number, choreographed by Sekou McMiller, borrowed from Disney’s Encanto. Honoring members of the Broadway Bares family lost through the years, in Passing the Torch, six aerialists, choreographed by Armando Farfan Jr., twisted into stunning shapes on a spherical torch in breathtaking choreography from Barak and Stancil. Joel Shier helmed the show’s lighting design, David Arsenault was scenic designer and Nick Borisjuk was sound designer. Hair design by Ian Joseph. Production stage managers were Jereme Kyle Lewis and Johnny Milani with Sarah Helgesen as stage manager. Video by Bardo Arts Productions. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theater community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses across the US.

الفئة