With the close of 2012, Broadway Sings for Pride (www.BwayPride.org) wanted to honor remarkable individuals who impacted our community this year.   Each of them is a true hero and stands for courage and hope.   Broadway Sings for Pride has filmed three tribute videos with some of New York’s best theatre performers.  NEALB.tv (www.NealB.tv) and Artists Proof Productions produced and conceptualized the videos.

 

 

Heroes of Sandy Hook Elementary School
“BE A LION” from The Wiz
Music & Lyrics: Charlie Smalls
Performed by:  Tracie Franklin (The Color Purple & Hairspray National Tours)

“Be A Lion” is a song about what it means to be brave and courageous.  The song lyrics, “You’re standing strong and tall, you’re the bravest of them all,” echo the actions of the heroes at Newtown, Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School.  This song is meant to inspire and show even in the midst of a horrific tragedy, we can all be brave and put our best foot forward.  National tour theater actress Tracie Franklin says, “I chose ‘Be A Lion’ because it is a beautiful song about finding strength and courage in the midst of turmoil.  This tragedy has broken the hearts of the world and my wish is that this song will inspire hope and healing.”

 

 

 

Hurricane Sandy Victims Tribute Video
“BEAUTIFUL CITY” from Godspell
Music and Lyrics:  Stephen Schwartz
Performed by:  Kyle Motsinger (Off Broadway’s Fancy Nancy the Musical)

Although “Beautiful City” was written by Stephen Schwartz over forty years ago, the song’s lyrics feel like that were written especially for the New York Tri-State area after the devastation Hurricane Sandy left.  The video was shot on location at Oakwood Beach, Staten Island, the Staten Island Ferry, & Battery Park City in lower Manhattan.  Each location was chosen because of the effects of the hurricane and the way each community has responded to rebuild their beautiful city.  New York City actor Kyle Motsinger explains, “An unfortunate truth about life is that bad things happen to good people.  How we overcome and move forward is in our hands.  ‘Beautiful City’ is relevant to New York. In times of crises we can come together and move forward.  I’m proud to love in this city and I hope the song inspires everyone to never give up making it beautiful.”

 

 

 

Marvin Hamlisch Tribute
“What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line
Music by Marvin Hamlisch & Lyrics by Edward Kleban
Performed by:  Rebecca Larkin (South Pacific & Avenue Q on Broadway)

Marvin Hamlisch was known for being a musical genius, so it’s only fitting Broadway Sings for Pride pays respect to his legacy.  “What I Did For Love” is a beautifully composed song with a theme he so evocatively encompassed.  Why this song is so near and dear to Broadway actress Rebecca Larkin: “I got the CD of ‘A Chorus Line’ for Hanukkah when I was a teenager.  I sang ‘What I Did For Love’ at an open mic at a precollege summer program when I was 15. It was at a time I really started to find myself and have the courage to start sharing my dreams with the people around me.”

 

 

About Broadway Sings for Pride

Broadway Sings For Pride is an exciting non-for-profit charitable organization, which brings together Broadway talent, activists and celebrities to promote LGBT equality through song. Broadway Sings for Pride has raised thousands for the LGBT community including The Hetrick-Martin Institute and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City. Among some of Broadway Sings for Pride’s supporters: Tony award-winner Carol Channing, actor Channing Tatum, Grammy award-winner LeAnn Rimes, Tony nominee Adam Pascal (Rent), Joy Behar (ABC’s The View), singer Lance Bass (‘N Sync). For more information, visit: www.BwayPride.org or on Facebook: Broadway Sings For Pride.

 

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