Stars Of Stage And Screen To Hit NYC For A Great Gay Cause

Curtis M. Wong

Some of New York's finest theater talents are set to take the stage March 18 for a great cause.

Tony Award winners Len Cariou, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Karen Ziemba are the latest to join the 2013 installment of "Broadway Backwards," which offers gay and lesbian theater fans a chance to "see their stories" told through memorable musical numbers for one night only.

As director Robert Bartley notes, many of the musical numbers will be re-interpreted by performers of the opposite gender for which they were originally intended -- a chance for many of the male stars to let their inner divas shine. Though Bartley remains tight-lipped about the specifics, last year's event saw Robin De Jesús charming the crowd with "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" from "My Fair Lady," and "Book of Mormon" star Andrew Rannells tackling a "Funny Girl" showstopper.

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Of course, the girls are in on the fun, too -- the pairing of Elizabeth Stanley ("The Million Dollar Quartet") and Sierra Boggess (currently seen in "Phantom of the Opera") for an all-female take on "Tonight" from "West Side Story" was a 2012 highlight.

View photos of 2012's "Broadway Backwards," then scroll down to keep reading:

Two-time Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesús provided a charming rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?” from "My Fair Lady," backed by his "In the Heights" castmates Javier Muñoz, Tony Chiroldes and Danny Bolero.
Two-time Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesús provided a charming rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?” from "My Fair Lady," backed by his "In the Heights" castmates Javier Muñoz, Tony Chiroldes and Danny Bolero.
Bryan Batt took a comedic romp through "Life with Harold" from "The Full Monty" as he tried to keep focus on the wonderful attributes of his husband, Harold, amid the distractions of handsome young shoppers along Fifth Avenue.
Bryan Batt took a comedic romp through "Life with Harold" from "The Full Monty" as he tried to keep focus on the wonderful attributes of his husband, Harold, amid the distractions of handsome young shoppers along Fifth Avenue.
The romantic balcony duet from "West Side Story" once again thrilled an audience as two of Broadway’s loveliest leading ladies, Sierra Boggess and Elizabeth Stanley, together sang the extraordinary duet ”Tonight” as it’s surely never been heard before.
The romantic balcony duet from "West Side Story" once again thrilled an audience as two of Broadway’s loveliest leading ladies, Sierra Boggess and Elizabeth Stanley, together sang the extraordinary duet ”Tonight” as it’s surely never been heard before.
Andrew Rannells brought the best of "Funny Girl" to the Broadway stage with a smooth and seductive rendition of "The Music That Makes Me Dance.”
Andrew Rannells brought the best of "Funny Girl" to the Broadway stage with a smooth and seductive rendition of "The Music That Makes Me Dance.”
Last year’s Act One finale was the defiant, high-energy anthem "I Just Want to Dance" from "Jerry Springer: The Opera," sung by Jason Michael Snow and featuring Cicily Daniels.
Last year’s Act One finale was the defiant, high-energy anthem "I Just Want to Dance" from "Jerry Springer: The Opera," sung by Jason Michael Snow and featuring Cicily Daniels.
Brian Charles Rooney and "American Idol" finalist Anthony Federov joined for “I Know Him So Well” from "Chess."
Brian Charles Rooney and "American Idol" finalist Anthony Federov joined for “I Know Him So Well” from "Chess."
Jim Brochu and Harvey Evans were met with thunderous applause after a flirtatious and whimsically sweet vaudeville turn in "It's Never Too Late to Fall In Love" from "The Boy Friend."
Jim Brochu and Harvey Evans were met with thunderous applause after a flirtatious and whimsically sweet vaudeville turn in "It's Never Too Late to Fall In Love" from "The Boy Friend."
Acclaimed newcomer Jessie Mueller brought the amazing vocals that won over hearts in her Broadway debut in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" as she brought a new dimension to "She Wasn't You" and "Come Back to Me," originally sung by co-star Harry Connick Jr.
Acclaimed newcomer Jessie Mueller brought the amazing vocals that won over hearts in her Broadway debut in "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" as she brought a new dimension to "She Wasn't You" and "Come Back to Me," originally sung by co-star Harry Connick Jr.
Jenn Colella and Jackie Hoffman turned the "Damn Yankees" showstopper "The Game" into an all-female vow to stay away from “booze and broads.”
Jenn Colella and Jackie Hoffman turned the "Damn Yankees" showstopper "The Game" into an all-female vow to stay away from “booze and broads.”

Now in its eighth year, the show will also feature appearances by Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons, Emmy Award-winning comedian Bruce Vilanch, and Stacy Oristano of TV's "Bunheads" and "Friday Night Lights," in addition to many other well-known stage and screen talents. Proceeds from the show will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS as well as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Community Center of New York.

True to form, the historic LGBT developments of the past year -- from President Barack Obama's embrace of gay rights to the marriage equality victories in four states -- aren't far from the performers' minds, Bartley notes.

"What art does so incredibly is make the unfamiliar become familiar through humor and pathos," says Bartley, who is also quick to point out the significance of staging "Broadway Backwards" at New York's Palace Theatre, which hosted Judy Garland and Ethel Merman, among other legendary icons, throughout its history. "Sometimes that kind of activism can be the strongest kind, as people don't know they are learning about our community through their laughter. They realize that we, just like them, have vulnerabilities, dreams [and] humor."

"Broadway Backwards" will be at New York's Palace Theatre on March 18. For more information on tickets, click here.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.