Adam Lambert lit up the Gershwin Theatre with a performance that will go down in Broadway Backwards history. Under the ornate lights of one of Broadway’s most iconic stages, Lambert didn’t just sing—he detonated.
The 2025 edition of Broadway Backwards, a night where gender roles are reversed and tradition is reimagined in celebration of love, inclusivity, and artistry, already had the crowd buzzing. But when Adam Lambert took center stage, time seemed to stop.
From the moment he strutted out, radiating charisma and flair, the energy in the room shifted. Then came Acid Queen. Originally a fiery piece of rock-theatre magic made famous by the incomparable Tina Turner, the song in Lambert’s hands was reborn—infused with raw power, mesmerizing intensity, and theatrical brilliance.
Draped in a dazzling outfit that shimmered under the stage lights, Lambert unleashed a performance that was part glam rock, part Broadway spectacle, and wholly him. Every gesture, every high note, every electric movement channeled both homage and reinvention. His voice—soaring, commanding, and drenched in emotion—pierced through the theatre like lightning, leaving the audience breathless. He didn’t just hit the notes; he scorched them into the walls of the theatre.
But beyond the glitz and vocal fireworks, there was heart. Broadway Backwards has always been about more than showmanship—it’s a rallying cry for compassion, for visibility, and for community. Lambert’s performance embodied that spirit. With every lyric, he exuded the defiance, pain, and power at the heart of Acid Queen, turning it into a battle cry for liberation, identity, and unapologetic self-expression.
As the final note reverberated, the audience erupted into a standing ovation that seemed to shake the rafters of the Gershwin. Cheers echoed through the theatre, many left with tears in their eyes and fire in their hearts. One could almost feel Tina Turner herself smiling somewhere in the stars.
That night wasn’t just a showcase of talent—it was a triumph of purpose. With over $1.1 million raised for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the evening proved the enduring power of performance to uplift and unite.
Adam Lambert didn’t just deliver a performance—he gave a masterclass in passion, authenticity, and the electrifying power of live theatre. In doing so, he reminded everyone in the room (and everyone watching from afar) that Broadway still has the power to surprise, to shake us, and to leave us utterly transformed.