30th Year Honorees & Award Recipients
Michael McElroy
Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) was founded in 1994 by TONY nominee, actor, singer and director, Michael McElroy.
After first being under the banner of Broadway Gospel Choir, it took on the current name in 1999. The choir quickly became the place where Mr. McElroy could express his unique arrangements of known and unknown songs (in and out of the American gospel and theatre songbooks), which soon became a sound that would be clamored for around the world.
In 2005, Michael along with writing partners, Joseph Joubert and Buryl Red, garnered a nomination for a Grammy Award for their work on Broadway Inspirational Voices’ holiday CD Great Joy: A Gospel Christmas.
Michael’s arrangements have been performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., The Crystal Cathedral in Anaheim, California as well as churches around the country.
Michael graduated with honors and a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon. From 2011-2021 he held the position of Associate Arts Professor and Head of Vocal Performance in the New Studio on Broadway at Tisch/NYU, and for 3 years served as Director of Diversity Initiatives for Tisch Undergraduate Drama. In the fall of 2021 Michael began his tenure as Chair of the Department of Musical Theatre at University of Michigan.
As a performer, Michael’s credits include: Broadway: Sunday in the Park with George (2017 Revival with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford), Next to Normal, Rent, The Wild Party, Big River (TONY nomination 2004, Drama Desk nomination), The Who’s Tommy, Miss Saigon, Patti LuPone on Broadway, High Roller Social Pleasure Club, Hair (Encores). New York Philharmonic: Candide. National Tour: Rent, Big River (LA Ovation nomination), Sarafina. Off‐Broadway: Some Men (Second Stage Theater), BLUE (Roundabout), Violet (Playwrights Horizons, Drama Desk Nomination), Thunder Knocking on the Door (Minetta Lane), and Richard III (NYSF).
TOM VIOLA
Tom Viola is the former executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway and one of the nation’s leading industry-based nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.
During Viola’s 36-year tenure, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS provided more than $300 million for lifesaving medication, health care, nutritious meals, emergency assistance and more for people living with HIV/AIDS and other critical health issues.
Viola led the organization’s growth into the single largest supporter of the Entertainment Community Fund, helping those in the performing arts and entertainment. His leadership helped establish the Fund’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, The Friedman Health Center, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and The Dancers’ Resource, as well as the expansion of the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center; Senior Services; Addiction and Recovery Services and more. In 2024, Broadway Cares awarded $6.5 million, bringing its support of the Fund since 1988 to $142 million.
Viola also championed the strategic expansion of Broadway Cares’ National Grants Program, which now annually awards grants to 450 social service organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Those grants reach food banks, health clinics, meal delivery programs, supportive housing residences, emergency financial assistance programs and more. In 2024, the National Grants Program provided more than $7.5 million to these agencies, awarding an additional $162 million since 1988.
A native of Pittsburgh, Viola is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music’s Musical Theater Program at University of Cincinnati. He performed in regional theaters and worked as a freelance writer until 1987 when he was hired by Actors’ Equity Association for what was to be a series of writing assignments.
In 1988 he became executive assistant to Equity’s then-president, Colleen Dewhurst, and administrative director of the newly created Equity Fights AIDS, until its merger with Broadway Cares in 1992.
Viola served as managing director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS until 1996, when he was named executive director. Viola retired in December 2024 and will support the organization through 2025 as senior consultant for grants.
In 2010, Viola was recognized by the Tony Awards with the Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre for “the leadership, advocacy and creativity through which he has mobilized the theater community’s response to AIDS and other critical health issues” as executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Viola served on the board of the Entertainment Community Fund from 1996 to 2024 where he chaired the Human Services Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee. In November 2024, Viola was presented with the Entertainment Community Fund’s Medal of Honor.
He’s also been honored with the Patrick Quinn Award for Distinguished Service from Actors’ Equity, the Sandy Fund Award from the Humane Society of New York, the Howard Ashman Award from GMHC, The Mosaic Award for Distinguished Alumni from the University of Cincinnati. He has been “sainted” by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and received special awards for lifetime achievement from Treatment Action Group, Tectonic Theatre Project and Encore Community Services.