Broadway for Orlando

The 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida killed 49 people and became the deadliest terrorist atrocity in America since 9/11. The attack happened on the day of the Tony Awards, and next morning writer/radio host Seth Rudetsky and his partner James Wesley began organising the musical theatre world and formed the charity project Broadway For Orlando as a tribute to the victims and a show of solidarity within the LGBT community. With orchestra musicians, performers and producers all working for free, over 60 artists including Whoopi Goldberg, Kirsten Bell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sara Bareilles, Carole King and Gloria Estefan all united to record a version of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's classic 1965 song What The World Needs Now Is Love. Proceeds from the single went to Florida community centres and the song was performed at the National Democratic Convention. The project continued with the From Broadway With Love benefit concert, featuring the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and stars from the musicals Glee, Mamma Mia, Waitress, Miss Saigon and Shuffle all performing, and a live DVD and album of the event helped raise more funds.