Broadway Hearts
‘One of the greatest joys of being part of a Broadway show is knowing the heart-soaring escape it provides to our audience members during the time they spend in our darkened theater.
During my nearly 21 years performing on Broadway, a personal highlight was when Make-A-Wish children would come to see the show. I looked forward to staying after the show to meet the kids and their families. However, after too many instances where a child had to cancel their visit, in 2018, I was inspired to create a way to bring Broadway performers directly to children in treatment.
With a few like-hearted performers from The Phantom of the Opera and other Broadway productions, I began reaching out to children’s hospitals, asking if we could visit and share music with the children. And with that, Broadway Hearts was born.
In 2019, we became a 501(c)(3), growing from just seven volunteers to over a hundred, representing nearly every show on Broadway. What started as visits to a single NYC hospital has since expanded to over forty hospitals nationwide, with our reach and programming continuing to grow.
Broadway Hearts was born from a desire to make a lasting difference in a child’s life, through the healing power of music, joy and laughter. It's become a profound passion in my own life and I feel very fortunate to be carrying this mission forward with wonderful friends and colleagues by my side.
Broadway Hearts is dedicated to my father, Peter Radetsky, whom we lost in 2009 to pancreatic cancer. There are no words to fully capture how incredible he was — as both a person and a father — and losing him changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. I knew I wanted to honor him in meaningful way, and I feel incredibly grateful to do so through Broadway Hearts. I believe he would have loved what we’re doing.’
We believe every child deserves to experience the magic of Broadway. When they are unable due to illness, Broadway Hearts brings the magic to them.
What We Do
Broadway Hearts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy, connection and the magic of Broadway to hospitalized children through our unique in-person and virtual outreach programming. We also offer curated, one-of-a-kind Broadway experiences in New York City for medically cleared children in treatment through our Broadway Hearts Backstage program.
Our Impact
“At our children's hospital, there’s a kind of magic that happens when Broadway Hearts visits. It’s not just the beauty of hearing Broadway actors caroling through our halls, but the way their music transforms the entire atmosphere. I saw it in the child who started joyfully kicking his leg in time with the music, unable to contain his excitement. I saw it in the smiles that appeared in doorways, even from kids who hadn’t smiled all day. And I’ll never forget the family who was having such a hard time—until the volunteers began singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The parents were moved to tears, and suddenly, the weight in the room felt just a little lighter. That’s the magic of Broadway Hearts: they don’t just bring music; they bring joy, connection, and hope to families who need it most.” Jennifer Weil - Child Life Patient Media Coordinator, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital
‘Broadway Hearts made magic happen for our 10 year old who is battling B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. She was gifted a weekend full of joy and smiles thanks to the work of this incredible organization. Broadway Hearts and their amazing partners gave her a worry free adventure including a Broadway show and meeting cast members backstage. We are so lucky to be beneficiaries of the wonderful work Broadway Hearts does.’ The Long Family
Our Vision
Broadway Hearts envisions a world where every child in treatment can experience the magic of a Broadway show.
We are continually broadening our reach, welcoming new hospitals to our roster and discovering innovative, creative ways to share the healing power of music with these courageous children. Through collaborations with esteemed partners such as the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, the New Jersey Devils, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, we are able to deepen our impact and bring joy to more young lives.
Our Volunteers
Broadway Hearts is driven by the passion and dedication of its incredible volunteers.
Our members include artists from acclaimed Broadway productions and companies such as The Phantom of the Opera, Elf on Broadway, The Notebook, Wicked, Hamilton, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Mean Girls, Back to the Future, Moulin Rouge, Carousel, The Notebook, MJ The Musical, West Side Story, Come From Away, Legally Blonde, Cinderella, The Lion King, Frozen, Sesame Street, American Ballet Theatre, Cats, Head Over Heels, On The Town, Some Like It Hot, Bat Out Of Hell, Into The Woods, Aladdin, Company, Fiddler on the Roof, An American in Paris, Sweeney Todd, The Book of Mormon, Cinderella, The Rockettes and Les Miserables.
And our performers have been nominated for numerous industry awards such as Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Olivier Awards and Golden Globes.
Our Values
Heart — is at the core of everything we do. Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our Foundation—their generosity of spirit and golden voices leave a lasting impact on children’s lives across the nation.
Enjoyment – Witnessing a child in treatment light up with joy, sing along to a favorite song, and smile is the greatest reward and one of reasons we look forward to every visit.
Awareness – As professional Broadway performers, we understand the profound ability of music to unite, uplift, and heal. We are deeply honored to share this gift with these truly inspirational children.
Reach – We are constantly seeking new ways to inspire and enrich the lives of the children we visit. Our goal is to expand our reach until Broadway Hearts is in every children’s hospital, worldwide.
Trust – The scientific evidence supporting music’s extraordinary power to heal is a key driving force behind this Foundation, guiding and inspiring everything we do.
We feel so honored to be allowed to share music with these inspiring children.
Please visit our website …