A sold-out crowd filled Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre Monday night, October 20th for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: Elton John and Friends, a benefit concert celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s legendary double album.

The event, produced by Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights), raised over $1 million, the proceeds of which benefitted BC/EFA, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Friends in Deed.  In addition to the guest of honor, the one-night-only performance featured special appearances by Billie Jean King and Taupin, John’s long-time collaborator.

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Rock stars, Broadway headliners, the best of the avant-garde, and the master himself all took turns interpreting songs from the 1973 platinum album in an evening that fused rock-concert energy with the production values and smooth transitions of a Broadway show.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights) with music direction by Tom Kitt,Goodbye Yellow Brick Road began with a moody dance performance to “Funeral For a Friend” that included featured dancers Melissa Hough and Larry Keigwin (#1) moving seamlessly into Patrick Wilson (All My Sons) performing “Love Lies Bleeding.”(#2)

Brick Road followed the album’s original path, with performers interpreting songs sequentially. So Kelli O’Hara (South Pacific) followed with a moving rendition of track 3, the legendary “Candle in the Wind” (#3),  while Hedwig’s John Cameron Mitchell jumped onstage, across the stage and on the piano in an eccentric take on “Bennie and the Jets” (#4).  Rufus Wainwright(#5) sang the album’s title song and piano virtuoso Ben Folds (#6) performed tracks 6 & 7: “This Song Has No Title” and“Grey Seal.”

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The cast of New York Shakespeare Festival’s exuberant production of Hair  followed with “Jamaica Jerk-Off” (#7A, #7B).

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Cirque de Soleil headliner and “downtown legend” Joey Arias (in Gautier-style bustier) interpreting “I’ve Seen that Movie Too”(#8).  Broadway’s sultry Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”) took the stage and the audience’s heart with “Sweet Painted Lady” (#9), while In The Heights’ Lin Manuel Miranda, joined by Shockwave, (#10) put a hip-hop spin on “The Ballad of Danny Bailey.”

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Dressed as a blonde Sarah Palin, Sheri Rene Scott (The Little Mermaid) (#11) ignited the audience with a number that began with “Dirty Little Girl” and ended with Scott and her three rifle-toting back up singers, “the Dirty Little Girls”: Jenifer Foote, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Courtney Laine Mazza) sharing the most beloved qualities of the Republican Vice Presidential nominee. Kissy Simmons, Dashaun Young and cast members from The Lion King grabbed the stage with a full-throttled production number of “Your Sister Can’t Twist, But She Can Rock ‘n’ Roll” (#12) before Passing Strange creator Stew’s (#13)high-energy, crowd-pleasing take on “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” left the band and full house in a sweat.

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With that, tennis legend and human rights activist Billie Jean King (#14) walked onstage to introduce her longtime friend, Sir Elton John. The 20-time Wimbledon champ recalled that she first met her fellow legend in 1973, a few weeks before her historic “Battle of the Sexes” match with Bobby Riggs. Visibly moved, King described John as “someone who’s been given a second chance in life” and fully appreciates the opportunity to give back (#15). She also took time to single out the reason for the evening’s show, raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Friends In Deed, three organizations that she said, “are reaching out to tens of thousands of people here in New York City, across the country and indeed internationally and fighting a battle that continues to this very evening.”

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“A lot of people have given their time and effort to perform with us here tonight, particularly those on an off-night on Broadway, and they have been marvelous,” said John, standing in the center of the New Amsterdam stage (#16) before turning to reveal the Yellow Brick Road on the back of his long black jacket (#17).

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“It is always such an honor to be here with these incredible performers.   But,” he continued, “None of these songs would have ever been written if I hadn’t had lyrics.  They come first.  Please give a huge round of applause to the man who really made GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD possible, my creative partner for 40 years, Bernie Taupin!” (#18)

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Elton closed by saying, “Thank you for coming.  Thank you for being so generous.  Thank you for the support you have made possible for people facing the challenges of AIDS.   We have done a very good thing here tonight!”   Returning to the Yamaha piano behind him, Sir Elton brought the evening to a rousing conclusion, performing the final three songs on this landmark album, which included “Roy Rogers” (#19) and then “Social Disease,” for which he was joined by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters (#20), dressed in a black & white striped cricket blazer and cap similar to the one Elton wore on the album cover (#21).

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For the finale, members of the Broadway Inspirational Voices joined Elton for “Harmony,” the last number on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (#22, #23, #24).

“Harmony and me, we’re pretty good company.
Looking for an island in our boat upon the sea.”

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Afterwards VIP guests joined Elton and his partner David Furnish (#25), Bernie Taupin (#26) his friends and fans (#27) for a post-show party that lasted well into the night!

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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
was sponsored by
American Express, Diageoand AKA, luxury extended stay hotels.

Photo credits:
Jay Brady Photography:
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Kevin Mazur/WireImage
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