Broadway Pays Tribute To Orlando Shooting Victims With 'What The World Needs Now Is Love'

On Sunday, June 12, the Broadway community dedicated the Tony Awards to the victims of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history in Orlando.

A few days later, some of the biggest theater stars got back together to honor the victims and sent a powerful message to the world with a beautiful rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “What the World Needs Now Is Love.”

Among the stars paying tribute were “Hamilton” creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, “On Your Feet!” creator Gloria Estefan, Matthew Broderick, Idina Mendzel, Kristen Bell, Sean Hayes, Idina Menzel, Rosie Perez, Wayne Brady, Sara Bareilles, Fran Drescher, Whoopi Goldberg and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The purpose of the song is also to raise funds for the LGBTQ Center of Central Florida. The moving tune is available through Broadway Records for $1.99 in order to help the victims and their families surpass the tragedy.

The worst mass shooting in U.S. history took place early Sunday, June 12, when a gunman opened fire inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., leaving 49 dead and 53 others injured.

As the venue was wrapping up its “Latin Night” party, the shooter, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Fla., first exchanged fire with the police officer working as part of the club’s security, and then walked in minutes before 2 a.m. to take everyone inside as hostage.

At the moment of the incident, Pulse posted on its official Facebook page: “Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running.” And later on, around 6 a.m., they updated their status saying, “As soon as we have any information, we will update everyone. Please keep everyone in your prayers as we work through this tragic event. Thank you for your thoughts and love.”

Investigators treated the incident as a terrorist attack for its similarities to the ones in Paris last November. “The Orlando nightclub mass shooting was inspired by Islamic State, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee said at the time,” officials stated.