Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) is a diverse community of Broadway artists united to change lives through the power of music and service.

In 1994 more than 32,000 people died from AIDS or AIDS-related complications in the U.S. Many of those deaths came from within the Broadway community. As Broadway grappled with the loss of an entire generation of artists, Tony and Grammy-nominated Michael McElroy (founder of the Broadway Inspirational Voices) saw in the community a profound need for hope, unity, and inspiration. He envisioned an organization where professional artists would come together and volunteer their gift to provide comfort, joy, and the promise of a better day–and as a result, The Broadway Gospel Choir was born. This magical synergy of authentic Gospel soul and Broadway bravura was re-imagined as the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) in 1999 and they have been the theatre community’s center of support and celebration ever since.  In 2019, The Tony Awards Administration Committee presented the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to four outstanding contributors to the Broadway industry, and Broadway Inspirational Voices was a recipient. The Tony Honor was a resounding endorsement of BIV’s enduring work and impact and in celebration of 25 years of service. In 2020, McElroy hand picked composer/singer Allen René Louis to become the new Artistic Director for BIV. BIV’s diverse membership has represented over 140 Broadway shows since its inception. For more information – and for ways to DONATE – go to www.BIVoices.org​. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at handle @BIVoices.

OUR MISSION

BIV is committed to supporting and strengthening communities in need. We accomplish our mission through uplifting choir performances and our signature arts, education, and outreach programs.

Through creative engagement we build a sense of community in safe and empowering spaces for individuals to be vulnerable, to heal, and rebuild. Our nationwide innovative and collaborative music and performing arts programs serve marginalized and overlooked communities in need. TONY® honored Broadway Inspirational Voices is uniquely positioned to access a diverse pool of creative professionals from Broadway and beyond who seek meaningful outlets to use their hearts and talents to provide mentorship and inspiration.

ALLEN RENÉ LOUIS

Allen René Louis is a Haitian-American producer, composer, arranger, and creative director. His artistry is deeply rooted in his cultural background and church upbringing. Louis attended Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, where he studied vocal performance. While in attendance, he continued to hone his musical skills by directing the male Acapella group, as well as leading the collegiate Gospel Choir. 

Louis was the vocal arranger, as well as a vocalist in “Ben Platt Live At The Palace” the limited run on Broadway, as well as Platt’s “Honeymind” Tour. Louis also appeared in Ben’s Netflix special Sing to Me Instead at Radio City Music Hall, and throughout the International Tour of the same title. Allen’s solo performances include a sold-out engagement of Allen Louis in Concert at the historical Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT (2018), his composer/debut concert at The Greenroom 42 in 2019, and a virtual concert entitled The Music of Allen René Louis aired worldwide in 2020.

Louis served as Music Director for the 2020 Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge presented by The American Theatre Wing in partnership with The National Endowment for the Arts. In 2021, His vocal arrangements were featured on The Tony Awards’ “Broadway’s Back” Live telecast on CBS, the Australian Premiere production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s “Choir Boy” at Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta in Spring of 2023, after serving in the same capacities for Yale Repertory Theatre’s Spring 2022 production of this lauded play. Louis is the Vocal Arranger and co-Music Arranger of the Broadway revival of The Wiz. 

In 2018, Louis was invited to be a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices. Soon after, he was appointed to BIV’s music team, where he worked closely with BIV’s founder and director, Michael McElroy. In January of 2021, he was chosen by McElroy to become BIV’s Associate Artistic Director, and officially stepped in as Artistic Director in July of 2021. 

Louis has numerous projects in development, and hopes that his work will continue to inspire, uplift, and bring about positive change.

“Over the course of 3 decades, through educational programming and live music, Broadway Inspirational Voices has seen the positive impact our work brings. Since 1994, service has been the root and foundation of our existence. In the midst of an epidemic, by way of rhythms, melodies and lyrics, it was our intention to heal, inspire, and bring hope to a community in pain." 

- Allen René Louis

EXPECT THE GREAT

Music/Lyrics by Jonathan Nelson

GOD WANTS A YES

Music/Lyrics by James Hall

WONDERFUL IS YOUR NAME

Music/Lyrics by Hezekiah Walker

Arrangement by Melvin Crispell III

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

Music/Lyrics by Milton Ager & Jack Yellen

Arrangement/Add’l Music & Lyrics by Allen René Louis

Band Arrangement by Kareem Matcham

Soloist: Kayla Davion

HUMAN HEART 

Music/Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty

Arrangement by Allen René Louis

Soloist: Shaunice M. Alexander

Background Vocalists: 

Casey Erin Clark, Nikisha Williams, Adee David, Danielle Chambers, Ben Roseberry, Will Stone

PASS ME NOT

Music/Lyrics by Fanny Crosby

Arrangement by Douglas Miller

Add’l Arrangement by Allen René Louis

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Music/Lyrics by Charlie Smalls

Arrangement/ Add’l Music & LyricS by Allen René Louis

Band Arrangement by Kareem Matcham

IT’S ONLY A TEST

Music/Lyrics by Bishop Larry Trotter

Soloist: Marcus Paul James 

15 Minute Intermission

WHEN THE BATTLE IS OVER

Music/Lyrics by Walter Hawkins

Arrangement by Donald Lawrence

Soloists: Treston J. Henderson, Hannah Juliano, Helen Marla White

PRECIOUS LORD

Music/Lyrics by Thomas Dorsey

Arrangement by Allen René Louis

Soloist: Ms. Gayle Turner 

CLAP YOUR HANDS

Music/Lyrics by Patrick Riddick

Add’l Music & Lyrics by Allen René Louis 

I’VE NEVER LOST MY PRAISE

Music/Lyrics by Kurt Carr

Arrangement by Allen René Louis

Soloist: Nattalyee Randall

MY SONG

Music/Lyrics by Allen René Louis

Band Arrangement by Kareem Matcham & Ghreg Louis

AT CALVARY

Music/Lyrics by William R. Newell 

Arrangement by Rev. Ernest Davis Jr.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

Music/Lyrics by Donald Lawrence

Soloist: Melody A. Betts

TOTAL PRAISE

Music/Lyrics by Richard Smallwood

MORE ABUNDANTLY

Music/Lyrics by Ricky Dillard

THE BIV CHOIR 

Sopranos

LaDonna Burns, Casey Erin Clark, Laura Dean, Tanesha Gary-Stickney, Alexa Green, Kimberly JaJuan, Jennifer Malenke, Tasha Michelle, Nicole Sutherland, Gayle Turner, Melissa Victor, Robin S. Walker, Helen Marla White

Altos

Shaunice Maudlyn Alexander, Danielle Chambers, Kayla Coleman, Adee David, Lucia Giannetta, Hannah Juliano, Terri O’Neill, Montria Walker, Nikisha Williams

Tenor/Bass/Baritone

Blu, E. Clayton Cornelious, Dev, Calvin Grant, Treston J. Henderson, Paul Ianniello, Darryl Jordan, Monroe Kent III, Kwame Michael Remy, Ben Roseberry, Michael Seelbach, Will Stone, Paul Trenier, Charles West, Christopher Zelno

THE BIV BAND

Music Director/Keys 1: Kareem Matcham

Bass: Terrell McCollin

Keys 2: Winchel St. Fleur

Drums: Sandchell St. Fleur

Guitar: Walter Williams IV

Guest Artists

ASL Artist: Brandon Kazen-Maddox

ASL Interpreter: Jeanine Pollard

Director of Artistic Sign Language: Marsellette Davis

BIV STAFF

Artistic Director: Allen René Louis

Concert Co-Director: Dennis Stowe

Concert Writers: Allen René Louis, Kate Chapman, Tasha Michelle Smith, Dr. Darryl Jordan

Executive Director: Angela Grovey

Director of Operations: Anna R. Kaltenbach

Associate Music Director: Ben Roseberry

Music Team:

Alto Vocal Captain: Adee David 

Soprano Vocal Captain: Casey Erin Clark 

Tenor Vocal Captain: Will Stone

Production Stage Manager: Leanne Long-Hulin

House Management: Michelle Liu Coughlin

Sound Designer: Patrick Pummill

Sound Team: Will Stone (Director of Sound & Audio Production) & Gibson Entertainment Services

Wardrobe Supervisor: Ta’Rea Campbell

Accountant: My Fiscal Office

Media Director: Marcus Paul James

Media Team:  Shaunice Alexander, Robert H Fowler

Copyist: Kate Chapman 

Arts and Education Programs Director: Tasha Michelle Smith 

Arts and Education Operations: Tiffany Cole

Membership Director: Robin S. Walker

Associate Membership Director: Laura Dean

Membership Team: Danielle Chambers, Laura Dean, Michael Seelbach

Section Leaders: Laura Dean, Danielle Chambers, and Paul Ianniello

Volunteer Coordinators: Mae Schuberth, Keirsten “Kai” Stanton

Graphic Designer: Nick Bringhurst

Photographer: Mark Warner

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert B. Acton, Chair

Leslie Barrett, Vice Chair

Joseph Cerrone, Treasurer

Dina Sarno Slawson, Secretary

Dan’l Mackie Almy, Director

Sylvie Armand, Director

Bruce Cohen, Director

Allyson Tucker Mitchell, Director

John Eric Parker, Director

Kevin Ryan, Director

Danielle D. Taylor, M.D., Director

Schele Williams, Advisory Council Chair

Michael McElroy, Founder

Phylicia Rashad, Chair Emeritus

Di Ana Pisarri *In Memoriam

KICK OFF CONCERT SPONSORS

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

Cause Strategy Partners 

Kevin Ryan

30TH YEAR SEASON  SPONSOR

Broadway Inspirational Voices is thrilled to kickoff our 30th Anniversary Season! We invite you to join us as a season sponsor and Celebrate the Yes with us all year long. 

Join us and become a season sponsor today! The impact of your sponsorship will support BIV's continued growth of our Arts & Education programs and capacity building initiatives, so that we can change more lives through the power of music and service. We know that low-income people and communities of color do not have the same access to our programs and events, and sponsorship makes it possible for BIV to offer affordable and accessible tickets to our concerts to our community members who need it most! To find out more and to become a sponsor please contact Danielle Wolfrum, Fundraising and Events Manager at daniellewolfrum@bivoices.org.

SPECIAL THANKS

Steve French (Voice Over Artist); Stephen Morris; Brent Ness & the Staff of the Church of St Paul and St Andrew;  Michael Strassheim

VOLUNTEERS

Michelle Liu Coughlin, Sherry Curreri, Julia Darling, Dev, Judith Franklin, Juliet Gray, Marie Gutierrez, Naomi Israel, Jacob Marre, Debbie McIntyre, ConRAD Neblett, Peter The Great!, Hannah Snow, Sanah Tahiliani, Vivienne Thomas, Natalia Urena, and Tasha Williams

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The land on which this performance takes place is part of the ancient homeland and traditional territory of the Lenape people. The Lenape (also referred to as the Delaware) were among the first Native Americans to come in contact with Europeans. Forced off their ancestral land, they now have communities in Kansas and Oklahoma. We remember and reflect on the losses suffered by Indigenous people at the hands of European colonizers and we acknowledge the enslaved peoples and many others whose names we do not know who helped to build this city.