Stars in the HouseStars in the House Looks Back on Broadway for Orlando Fundraiser With Rosie O'Donnell, Wayne Brady, More June 23Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley's series marks the fifth anniversary of thefundraiser, paying tribute to those who lost their lives during the Pulse nightclub shooting.
By
Andrew Gans
June 23, 2021
StarsintheHouse, the daily live streamed concert series created by Playbill correspondent and SiriusXM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley, marks the fifth anniversary of Broadway for Orlando and the release of the cover of “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” which raised over $100,000 for the The Center Orlando, June 23 at 8 PM ET.
Guests include Wayne Brady, Keala Settle, Liz Callaway, Ann Hampton Callaway, Rosie O'Donnell, and Orfeh, as well as The Center Orlando Executive Director George A. Wallace. The evening will focus on the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community and raise funds and awareness for The Center Orlando in tribute to those who lost their lives during the shooting at the gay nightclub Pulse.
On the morning of June 12, 2016, while most of Broadway was getting ready to celebrate the 2016 Tony Awards, word came through that a mass shooting had taken place at the Orlando venue. At the time it was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The Tony Awards dedicated that evening’s ceremony to the victims, their families, and the entire Orlando community. Several of the evening’s winners mentioned the event during their acceptance speeches.
Three days later, members of the community gathered again—at Avatar Studios in Manhattan and in recording studios in Miami and Los Angeles. Over 60 stars raised their voices for Broadway for Orlando, a cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “What the World Needs Now is Love.” Proceeds from the digital download benefited The Center Orlando.
Stars in the House launched March 16 last year to promote support for The Actors Fund and its services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It has also raised funds for the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund in support of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
New shows—streaming Tuesday–Saturday at 8 PM ET—feature performances by stars of stage and screen, in conversation and song with Rudetsky and Wesley. Peter Flynn serves as streaming director.
A chorus of Broadway celebrities raised their voices in song in response to the June 12 Orlando shooting massacre, the worst in U.S. history. Actors, singers and songwriters—including Matthew Broderick, Sara Bareilles, Sean Hayes, Carole King, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, Michael Cerveris, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Orfeh, Andréa Burns, Sarah Jessica Parker and dozens more—gathered June 15 at Avatar Studios to sing a benefit single of “What the World Needs Now is Love,” produced by Seth Rudestky, James Westley and Broadway Records in conjunction with a music video filmed and produced by Playbill. The single and video will be available June 20. The digital download will be available for purchase at BroadwayRecords.com with 100% of proceeds benefiting the LGBT Center of Central Florida.
