Review: BroadwayWorld's 20th Anniversary Concert Thrills And Satisfies at Sony Hall

Well, that was the party of the year, wasn’t it?  It can be sufficiently and affirmatively stated that the audience at the BroadwayWorld 20th Anniversary concert went home satisfied, joyous, thrilled, and maybe even a little exhausted, for it was a long night, and an emotional one, too.  With Sony Hall at capacity and star after star after star marching across the stage, it was destined to be one for the record books, a night to be cherished and remembered for a long time to come, for Richard Jay-Alexander was in the Director’s Chair, and there was no chance for the evening to go any other way but memorably.

Sony Hall was awash with glittering personalities and refinery of couture on Sunday night, as stars of the concert, like Christopher Sieber, Brittney Johnson, and Orfeh slipped through a crowd that included celebrity attorney Mark Sendroff, BCEFA’s Tom Viola, The Sherri Shepherd Show’s Kevin Burrows, actor and model Pascal Pastrana, voice teacher to the stars Celeste Simone, cabaret colleagues James Beaman & Goldie Dver, and crooning bffs Seth Sikes & Nicolas King.  Walking With Bubbles producers The D’Angoras could be seen chatting up publicist Richard Hillman, and Richard Jay-Alexander kept choreographer Baayork Lee company in between bouts of checking off boxes, dotting i’s and crossing t’s.  The entire venue was buzzing with excitement for the celebration, and all eyes were on BroadwayWorld creator and CEO Robert Diamond, and not just because he and wife Jennifer Hallie Diamond were the most gorgeous and resplendent people in the room.  This was Rob’s night, and everyone, friend or BroadwayWorld fan, was there to celebrate him, to celebrate with him, and to see the epic three hour concert that he, Richard Jay, and a cast of thousands had created.

It was the party of the year.

For the duration of the celebration concert, it was impossible to not be left breathless, at one point or another, given the roster of talent Richard Jay-Alexander had lined up.  With BroadwayWorld’s own Richard Ridge hosting alongside the legendary Chita Rivera (coincidentally, Richie’s best friend and Broadway one-and-only), there was a reasonable expectation that the evening would be in good hands, and it really was.  We all know Mr. Ridge to be a fine and dedicated on-camera interviewer but it would not be a far stretch of the imagination to find him hosting other events like this in the future, for Richie is a fine and entertaining emcee - but it has to be said that one of the joys of watching RR host the show was seeing the absolute adoration pouring from his eyes each and every time that he looked at Chita, who matched the love evenly with her return gaze.  The two best pals worked extremely well with and off of one another for their time on the stage, drawing smiles and a warm feeling of benevolence from the crowd, to say nothing of the laughter on any agenda when Chita Rivera tells a funny story, something at which the three-time Tony Award winner excels, with style.  Rivera and Richie set the tone for the night, and all were off to the races.

With special filmed messages from Michael Crawford, Seth Rudetsky, and Mandy Gonzalez, a variety of video montages, and two presentations from Marc Shaiman and Randy Rainbow that were HI-Ho-Larious, most of the program was limited to live performances and reminiscences about each artist’s “BroadwayWorld Moment” - like when friends texted Eden Espinosa to tell her to “Go read the BroadwayWorld chatboard” or when Donna McKechnie did one of the earliest BWW interviews with Richard Ridge, spotting a Diamond in the rough hiding behind a computer screen.  All of the reminiscences were heartfelt, genuine, and touching, but nothing could come close to matching usual pillar of power Shoshana Bean becoming teary-eyed while reflecting on the support she felt from Robert Diamond and BroadwayWorld when she made the unpopular decision to take a step back from theater in order to pursue a recording career, followed immediately by one of the most original and impeccable performances of “Finishing The Hat” on record.  Naturally, every person in attendance had a favorite moment of the evening, each one resonating for a reason that, best, touched that person’s heart.  For instance, at the end of the evening, James Beaman turned to me on the sidewalk and said, “Mario Cantone!  It was ALL about Mario Cantone!”  Jamie was not wrong.  Mario’s brief comedy bit that segued into “Chief, Cook, and Bottle Washer” was seriously unforgettable, with Chita cheering him on (and, maybe, singing along) from stage left.  And this morning, my friend Carlos Hidalgo (who is completely non-show business) burst through the door at the gym and said, “Oh my gosh!  That lady that sang about dancing all night!  She was SO amazing!”  (That lady would be Jenn Colella.)  My own husband, actor Pat Dwyer, was beside himself during the Jessica Vosk “Meadowlark” and Richard Jay-Alexander could be seen in the BroadwayWorld Cafe wiping away tears while mom-to-be Brittney Johnson sang “The Story Goes On” (just moments before song originator Liz Callaway came to the stage, thank you very much).  The entire night was really quite special, particularly when Carla Hoke-Miller from the Mayor’s office stopped by with a Proclamation declaring May 22, 2023 BroadwayWorld Day, necessitating the usually shy and computer screen-camouflaged Rob Diamond to step into the spotlight for a few gracious moments that everyone at Sony Hall enjoyed and supported.  Not one soul in the venue escaped without a personal experience touching their heart.

Sitting in my chair at the venue, listening to the stats, the history, the facts and trivia, the weight of what BroadwayWorld has done, achieved, meant over the last two decades really did give this writer a strong sense of belonging, a strong sense of gratitude for what Robert Diamond gave me when he called me and asked me to come on board at his company, when he asked me to be a part of his family.  I was nobody.  I was a failed author with two books that nobody bought, living quietly in obscurity, working in the health and fitness field, caring for my family and making rather epic Facebook posts when Rob said to me, “You’re my new cabaret writer and editor.”  I answered, “Have you read what I write?  I’m really voluble.”  “I read everything you write,” quoth he, and then he gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.  Untried.  Untested.  He sought out, found, and claimed me for his own. I heard each performer say something to Rob about what his website, about what THIS website, had done for them, HAS done for them, and it was a little overwhelming.  It was definitely emotional.  Because this man who stood on the stage of Sony Hall and declared himself to be a tech person who loves the arts, seemingly does not realize that he is a tech person who loves the arts AND people.  Shy?  Perhaps.  Aloof?  Never.  Robert Diamond changed lives.  He made lives better.  He made people feel seen and made them feel heard, and he gave them chances and opportunities.  He made and makes people feel visible, supported, valuable, and he has been doing it for twenty years.  

Now, here’s to the next twenty.

Read Robert Diamond’s reflections on Sunday night HERE.

Enjoy Jennifer Broski’s Photo Essay from the show HERE.

Enjoy Genevieve Rafter Keddy's Red Carpet Photos HERE.

Enjoy a Bruce Glikas Photo Flash HERE.

Check out my own photos of the performance below and visit my website HERE.

Proceeds from the BroadwayWorld 20th Anniversary Concert will go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  Visit the BCEFA website HERE.

Chita Rivera and Richard Ridge

Donna McKechnie

Jenn Colella

Elizabeth Teeter

Paulo Szot

Mayor's Proclamation

Seth Rudetsky

BroadwayWorld Cafe

Marc Shaiman

Mario Cantone

Myles Frost

Brittney Johnson

Liz Callaway

BroadwayWorld Contest Winner Nicole Quintana's video announcing her win.

Shoshana Bean

Constantine Maroulis and Orfeh

Randy Rainbow

Christopher Sieber

Natalie Toro, Josh Walden, Kurt Domoney

Well deserved credit for the evening's Musical Director:

Praise for the members of the band:

Eden Espinosa

Debbie Gibson

Olivia Hardy

Blair St. Clair

Jessica Vosk

Hugh Panaro

Closing comments from Rob Diamond with Chita Rivera, Richard Ridge, Hugh Panaro and Richard Jay-Alexander by his side.