Broadway For Orlando: Stars Come Together To Record Powerful Song For Victims
Broadway’s best and biggest stars delivered a powerhouse, emotional tribute of “What The World Needs Now Is Love” to honor and recognize the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, and to benefit the LGBTQ community.
The Broadway community joined together on June 15, after news broke about the tragic mass shooting at a gay nightclub called Pulse in Orlando, to help and support the victims and their families.
The result is “#BroadwayForOrlando.”
The group chose to sing a cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “What The World Needs Now Is Love.”
Fun Fact: The song, “What The World Needs Now Is Love” was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 1965 for singer, Jackie DeShannon. The song has since been recorded by over 100 artists, including big names like Barry Manilow and Judy Garland.
This version just may be the most influential and important recording of this classic song.
100 percent of the proceeds made from the sale of this song will go to the LGBT Center of Central Florida.
The video is powerful, moving, and motivating in its display of America’s favorite Broadway stars inspiring people to take action and do something to help the victims of Orlando.
Just days after America’s deadliest shooting massacre took place at a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and injuring 53 more, over 60 members of the Broadway community gathered to see how they could help.
Awards’ show host James Corden made a statement regarding Broadway’s strong ties and support for the LGBT community at the outset of the program.
‘Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved.”
“Tonight’s show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle.”
Some of the big names that joined in to support Orlando were Sarah Bareilles, Wayne Brady, Matthew Broderick, and Sarah Jessica Parker, along with some up straight legends like Gloria Estefan, Idina Menzel, Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Whoopi Goldburg, and Carole King.
People magazine shared a photo on Twitter featuring some of the talented faces of Broadway singing together.
.@AudraEqualityMc, @Lin_Manuel, @Carole_King, more record #BroadwayForOrlando benefit single https://t.co/8ZkJDPsL1A pic.twitter.com/nOccDQ9Ifk
— People (@people) June 19, 2016
It was truly heartwarming to see all of America’s favorite stars of Broadway come together and support Orlando and the LGBT community during this time of great tragedy.
Other recognizable performers included Rosie O’Donnell, Fran Dresher, Kristen Bell, Alice Ripley, Carmen Cusack, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, and the list goes on.
Kristin Bell tweeted after the recording to share the #BroadwayForOrlando project with her fans and followers.
The number of talented artists that showed up to record this song was outstanding. It is truly touching to see and hear the Broadway tribute to the Orlando victims. They are definitely on to something, as the world could definitely use a little love right now.
The video begins with a statement from the Broadway community.
“All of us in the Broadway community are deeply saddened by the senseless tragedy that occurred in Orlando in the early morning hours of June 12.”
Broadway Records President Van Dean joined hands with SiriusXM Radio host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley to organize the “Broadway for Orlando” project, according to the label’s press statement. The group of Broadway actors got together and recorded the song at Avatar Studios in New York City on June 15.
A few from the talented bunch of Broadway actors that participated in the recording are set to appear on the new, hit NBC series Maya and Marty on Tuesday, June 21 to perform the song live.
Co-organizer of #BroadwayForOrlando, Seth Rudetsky, shared this heart-warming photo on social media.
The digital download is available for $1.99 at BroadwayRecords.com and on iTunes. Don’t forget, 100 percent of the proceeds are going toward benefiting the LGBT Center of Central Florida.
Check out the video below to see all of the biggest Broadway stars come together to help the Orlando victims and sing “What The World Needs Now Is Love.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACIqQpYhkBw
[Photo by Adam Berry/Stringer/Getty Images]
