Updated at 9:32 a.m. Jan. 15 to include additional photos.

Powerful harmonies, flamboyant choreography and a lively tap number. As the opening number said, “anything for the gays.”

The Elon University performing arts students hosted their 19th annual benefit cabaret, Elon Cares, on Jan. 14 in Yeager Recital Hall at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The cabaret was in support of the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS charity. The event organizers aimed to raise $2,000 for the charity, and reached their goal before the second show began. Sophomore Laird Stearns, who is on the Elon Cares artistic board of directors and a performer in the show, said that as of 10:30 p.m. they estimated the event had raised $2,300.

According to their website, Broadway Cares is one of the nation’s largest industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising organizations. The charity provides healthcare, meals and financial assistance for HIV/AIDS patients across the United States. According to Playbill, Broadway Cares raised $7.34 million to fight AIDS in fall 2025 alone, breaking the record they had set the previous spring.

Admissions for Elon Cares were free, but attendees could donate to participate in a raffle. Every in-person donation entered spectators into raffles with music theatre themed prizes. Prizes included signed posters, merchandise from musicals and sessions with industry professionals. Raffle prizes were donated by Elon alumni, including Dariana Mullen ’21, Kennedy Caughell ’12 and Mallorie Sievert ’24.

Audience members were told at the beginning of the show what their donations would help fund, and during the intermission, some went to donate to Broadway Cares. Junior Aidan Fishkind said he was already aware of the effects of HIV/AIDS on LGBTQ+ communities as a human service studies major, and was happy they could help support in their own way.

“It's three good things in one: I get to support my friends, support a good cause and just have a fun night out,” Fishkind said.

The performance was sponsored by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, funded by the Student Government Association and organized entirely by students. Stearns said the board was in charge of casting, organizing the numbers and putting students into directing roles they wanted.

“It's a big puzzle that we're just kind of putting together, and the pieces are kind of constantly moving,” Stearns said. “We don't really have control over students, so it's really up to them to stick to their commitment.”

The performance featured 12 ensemble musical numbers, featuring songs from “Death Becomes Her,” “Kinky Boots,” “Cabaret” and “Glee.” All numbers were choreographed, directed and performed by Elon students in a week-long rehearsal period.

 Sophomore Ana Hernandez Lopez, a performer in Elon Cares, said it has been rewarding to see everyone’s work come together, and it has inspired her to direct in the future.

“I personally feel like I'm more of a dancer than anything, but I would love to choreograph something,” Hernandez Lopez said. “I would love to choreograph something with Latin rhythms, something very fierce like that.”

The Center for the Arts lobby had tables set up showcasing the prizes, with red buckets to collect raffle tickets. The GLC had set up their own table, as well as one table run by the Triad Health Project. THP is a nonprofit organization that provides food, HIV treatment, STD/STI tests for residents in the Triad area and is a partner with Broadway Cares. 

Kam Bhattarai, a prevention advocate with THP, said the organization comes to events such as Elon Cares to make their resources known for people who need them and to try to destigmatize the work they do.

“We have partners like Elon and other organizations, entities who are open to share these opportunities where we can engage with people, and provide services and resources for the community,” Bhattarai said. “We're trying to help people who want to actually get the treatment, and try to recover again to just have a normal life.”

Along with raising money for Broadway Cares, the cabaret performance raised awareness for the lingering problem of AIDS in LGBTQ+ communities. Junior Annika Benander, a performer in Elon Cares, said the experience has shown her how art can call for social and political change.

“I think it's really important for the Performing Arts Department to focus on art in a political sense, and what it means to be an artist activist,” Benander said. “I think that's really important, but I also think it's really important to put queer art and student art on stage.”