About the Night Each Year When Broadway Is Its Gayest

When Broadway Backwards is onstage Monday, men will sing your favorite standards to other men. Women will court women. And thousands of dollars will be raised to support LGBT causes.

Director Robert Bartley, who created the annual fund-raiser, describes it as "the entire Broadway community coming together for another community, the gay and lesbian community."

The event, held this year at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the LGBT Community Center of New York City. Last year it broke records and raised $281,243.

Actor Robin De Jesus remembers watching a cast of "fierce men" perform the "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago.

"How many men have sat there, especially musical theater men, and thought, Oh, God, if I could just be in 'Cell Block Tango,' if I could just play Velma." On this night they can.

Watch clips of the performances and their explanation of what it all means in the video below.