Powerhouse vocal performances, stirring dances and community joy swelled inside Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre at this year’s Red Bucket Follies. The heartwarming annual variety show, performed December 9 and 10, 2024, honored 53 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies that participated in the fall #RedBuckets fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Red Bucket Follies raised an extraordinary $5,320,146. The total was announced at the conclusion of Tuesday’s performance by special guests Cole Escola, Ruthie Ann Miles, Jim Parsons and Nicole Scherzinger.

Wicked defied gravity when both the Broadway and national touring productions took home top fundraising titles. The Wicked – Munchkinland tour raised a thrillifying $318,084, with the Broadway production raising $284,052 “For Good.”

Best onstage presentation went to Back to the Future: The Musical. After laughably lamenting that their show had been “Clooney’d”  — a nod to their production closing to make way for George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck at the Winter Garden Theatre — the company of Back to the Future: The Musical celebrated their production’s well-loved run with parodied performances of songs from the show. The cast, led by Casey Likes, JJ Niemann and Jelani Remy, was joined in the number by several front-of-house staffers, including Sheryl Goldberg and Verna Hobson, who have proudly served at the Winter Garden for 25 and 33 years, respectively.

The Lion King earned the runner-up presentation title for “Mental,” a powerful piece that delved into the overwhelming anxiety and pain that often accompany mental illness, posing the question, “Who would prioritize me?” The resonant number was written by the show’s Mufasa, L. Steven Taylor, and directed and choreographed by cast member Ray Mercer.

Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, took the stage to express his gratitude to those onstage, backstage and in the audience before his retirement at the end of 2024, marking 36 years of extraordinary service.

“You’ve joined our work with such commitment, generosity of spirit, kindness and great humanity,” Viola said. “You shared your time, talents, energy and resources in ways that have simply been beyond imagining. … I will hold the memories of what we shared for these many years in my heart forever. Thank you.”

This year’s opening number emphasized the importance of honoring those who have fought for justice and equity, and inspiring us to rise up and fight for those marginalized today. The number included recordings of galvanizing words from Viola, highlighting his legacy of activism and action. Alongside a dynamic ensemble of dancers, LaQuet Sharnell Pringle delivered their own spoken-word poetry urging the audience to “learn from our past while building upon our future.” Then, Melody A. Betts, Arielle Jacobs and Rema Webb led a stirring rendition of “Keep Marching” from Suffs, written by Shaina Taub. The number, a poignant call to action, was directed, choreographed and conceived by Andrew Turtletaub.

Seth Rudetsky, host of SiriusXM’s “On Broadway” channel, hosted the show for the 14th time with his effervescent charm and quintessential deconstructions. He thrilled the crowd as he unpacked the vocal choices of Broadway’s most legendary names.

Betty Buckley joined Rudetsky for a special appearance to celebrate her joining Broadway Cares’ Broadway Legends ornament series as Grizabella, her Tony Award-winning role in Cats. She delivered a deeply emotional performance of “Memory” that had both Buckley and the audience in tears, ultimately bringing the entire theater to its feet.

In a heartfelt tribute to swings everywhere, Suffs’ Jenna Bainbridge and Chessa Metz engaged in a spirited debate — and ultimate celebration — of the joys and challenges of covering roles on Broadway in “Show You Who We Are.” A clever parody of the Suffs hit song, the number reminded audiences that a white slip in your Playbill could signal that you’re witnessing Broadway’s next rising star.

The cast of Six paid tribute to one of Broadway’s brightest lights gone too soon, Gavin Creel, with a heartfelt and harmony-rich rendition of David Friedman’s “We Can Be Kind.” Reflecting on Creel’s legacy of compassion and advocacy, the performance encouraged the audience to come together, support one another and spread kindness.

Near, far, wherever you are, the company of Off-Broadway’s Titanique brought electrifying vocals to a fresh, bold take on “My Heart Will Go On.” This dynamic performance celebrated the show’s muse, the iconic Celine Dion, with a powerful remix that had the New Amsterdam Theatre bursting with energy and joy.

The cast of Hamilton paired an emotional, touching dance with a beloved The Wizard of Oz tune when they presented “Over the Rainbow.” Sung by the show’s Elizas, Reanne Acasio and Morgan Wood, the performance wove the iconic lyrics seamlessly with Eliza’s own powerful words from the show and with choreography by cast member Thayne Jasperson.

In an homage to 1990s Black sitcoms, the cast of Hell’s Kitchen playfully spoofed the behind-the-scenes antics of a “making of Hell’s Kitchen” special for the classic New York City TV channel UPN 9. They launched into an electrifying, high-energy hip-hop dance set to “Heartburn” by the musical’s Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist, Alicia Keys.

Wicked’s Aydin Eyikan reprised Billy Griffin’s “Get Happy,” a work which premiered at this summer’s Fire Island Dance Festival, produced by and benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Eyikan both metaphorically and literally stripped himself down to bare essentials in this expression of Griffin’s coming-of-age, as he personified the exultant celebration that only comes with accepting your truest self.

The show’s rapturous finale featured a soulful spin on Rickey Dillard’s gospel favorite “More Abundantly” from Broadway Inspirational Voices.

Musical theater choreographer Chaz Wolcott directed and choreographed a salute to the 16 national touring productions that joined in the fall fundraising. The celebratory and supportive dance piece was set to “Stand by Me” by the original cast of Smokey Joe’s Cafe.

Representing Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Parsons Dance presented their joyful Whirlaway, which was shared earlier this year at Hudson Valley Dance Festival. The uplifting ode to New Orleans created by David Parsons enveloped the audience in play and spontaneity as they explored the delight and exaltation of movement.

Broadway Cares affiliate organization R.Evolución Latina was represented with a piece sharing the expansiveness of Latino performers currently on Broadway, while spotlighting the diverse voices set to take the stage this spring. The piece was written, directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado.

Here’s the breakdown of this year’s fundraising leaders:

Broadway Musical
Top Fundraiser	Wicked	$284,052
1st Runner-Up	Hell’s Kitchen	$269,562
2nd Runner-Up	Sunset Blvd.	$258,702
3rd Runner-Up	The Outsiders	$200,052

Broadway Play
Top Fundraiser	Oh, Mary!	$203,794
1st Runner-Up	Our Town	$152,631
2nd Runner-Up	Romeo + Juliet	$102,176

Off-Broadway (Play or Musical)
Top Fundraiser	Little Shop of Horrors	$118,374
1st Runner-Up	Titanique	$28,855
2nd Runner-Up	The Play That Goes Wrong	$24,342

National Tours
Top Fundraiser	Wicked – Munchkinland	$318,084
1st Runner-Up	Some Like It Hot	$160,917
2nd Runner-Up	Hamilton – Philip	$144,407
3rd Runner-Up	Moulin Rouge! The Musical	$136,438
4th Runner-Up	Hamilton – Angelica	$134,002

Javier Muñoz led the audience in a soul-stirring moment of silence to remember lives lost to and affected by HIV/AIDS. He inspired the audience to recommit to making a difference and renew a promise of hope for people challenged by all variety of personal crises, health issues and in need.

Other special presenters included Darlesia Cearcy, Kim Exum, Dionne Figgins, Jennie Harney-Fleming and James Monroe Igelhart who shared the list of shows that fundraised by weren’t performing; and Josh Lamon, Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams who shared the impact of Broadway Cares’ grant-making.

The panel of judges who chose the best presentation winners was introduced by Julie Halston, David Thaxton and Max von Essen.

This year’s judges were Tom Francis; Nikki M. James and Shaina Taub; Kimberly Marable and Bianca Marroquín; Mary Kate Morrissey and Brad Oscar; Bebe Neuwirth and Steven Skybell; and Conrad Ricamora. Also joining the panel were Wayne Vincent and Art Panfile and Gary Wendlandt and Peg Wendlandt, who won their judging spots by bidding on exclusive VIP packages at the 38th annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.

Red Bucket Follies was directed by Jason Trubitt with Bernadette Schoenborn serving as production stage manager, leading a team of 16 accomplished stage managers. Ted Arthur was music director and Charles Gordon was music coordinator. Lighting design was by Joel Shier with sound design by Marie Renee Foucher.

Since 1989, the 33 editions of Red Bucket Follies (formerly called Gypsy of the Year) have raised $104 million to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 

Red Bucket Follies was performed at the New Amsterdam Theatre, home to Disney’s Aladdin. Red Bucket Follies was sponsored by The New York Times and United, the official airline of Broadway Cares.

Photos by Curtis Brown and Rebecca Michelson
Video by Bardo Arts; edited by Josh Drake

This year’s program