Ariana DeBose, Amber Iman, More to Appear at Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip Benefit

They're ready to take a trip to sin city. The special guests have been announced for Broadway Cares' annual striptease event, Broadway Bares: Hit the Strip, which is set for June 23 at 9:30 PM and midnight at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Oscar winner and 2024 Tony Award host Ariana DeBose is scheduled to make an appearance, while 2024 Tony nominee Amber Iman (Lempicka) and Amber Ardolino (A Beautiful Noise) will be part of the striptease portion of the evening.

More than 150 dazzling dancers will take part in larger-than-life burlesque production numbers, as attendees will be immersed in a Las Vegas-inspired world of luxury, largess, and liberation. Proceeds from the fundraising event will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Among the other stars making appearances are Jay Armstrong Johnson (Parade), Taylor Iman Jones (The Lonely Few); Jelani Remy (Back to the Future: The Musical); Constantine Rousouli (Titanique); Johnny Sibilly (TV’s Hacks); and The Boy Band Project’s Jesse Corbin, John Edwards, Chris Messina, Travis Nesbitt, and Jesse Starrs.

The other stars taking part in the striptease are Ehizoje Azeke (In the Heights film), Kristina Doucette (Here Lies Love), burlesque star Jake DuPree, Aydin Eyikan (Wicked), Michael Graceffa (TV’s Welcome to Chippendales), longtime Broadway Bares director-choreographer-performer Nick Kenkel, Cajai Kennedy (Wicked), Wayne “Juice” Mackins (The Prom), Yani Marin (Bob Fosse’s Dancin’), Elliot Mattox (Titanique), Jimin Moon (Lempicka), Benjamin Rivera (Aladdin), Alvin Ailey School and Martha Graham Center instructor Ben Schultz, and Andrew Slane (TV’s The Other Two).

Kellen Stancil (The Lion King) will direct this year's fundraiser. Joining Stancil is associate director Paula DeLuise and assistant director Andres Acosta. Bares founder, Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, and Kenkel are executive producers.

The choreographers lighting up the strip, in addition to Stancil, include John Alix, Mike Baerga, Phil Colgan, Karla Puno Garcia, Billy Griffin, Amber Jackson, Jonathan Lee, Leo Moctezuma, Rachelle Rak, Michael Lee Scott, and Maleek Washington.

Broadway Bares was created in 1992 by Mitchell during his time as a Broadway dancer. Looking for a way to raise awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS, Mitchell and six of his friends danced atop a New York City bar and raised $8,000. Last year’s edition took in $1.88 million, bringing the total to more than $26 million for Broadway Cares.

Broadway Cares is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Tickets and VIP packages (including a cocktail party with Tony winner Mitchell) are now on sale at BroadwayCares.org/bares.

See photos from the 2023 Broadway Bares below.