Broadway has long been a place where the human condition is dramatized and dissected. From joy to grief and from hope to loss, these and many other emotions give us a reason to escape and to celebrate who we are as people. On October 12, 2025 Broadway lights will shine for an important cause that has long been ignored by the mainstream: men’s prostaste cancer. The “Love Life” gala in New York City will bring stars from Broadway stage and screen in a performance to benefit two major organizations: One For The Boys (OFTB) and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), whose missions converge on the same frontline: early cancer detection, trusted conversations, and empathy.
Hosted by Frank DiLella, the Emmy-winning host of On Stage on NY1, the evening will feature a lineup that reads like the marquee Broadway play: Marisha Wallace, the Olivier-nominated powerhouse; Tony Award winner Ben Vereen; Orfeh, beloved from Legally Blonde; Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya; and Lorna Luft, daughter of Judy Garland and a performer whose voice carries both legacy and conviction. They’ll be joined by Scarlett Strallen, Bryce Pinkham, Liz Callaway, Judy Carmichael, and Evita stars Diego Andres Rodriguez and James Olivas.
Although it is taking place for one night only, what gives this particular gathering its weight is the data behind the men’s prostate epidemic, new findings from one of the world’s largest prostate cancer screening studies have revealed a startling truth: men who skip their prostate screenings are 45 percent more likely to die from the disease. The study, conducted by the European Association of Urology, analyzed two decades of health records from more than 72,000 men across seven European countries, identified a group long overlooked in public health campaigns and what researchers call the “appointment avoiders.” These are the men of all ages who, for reasons ranging from fear to misplaced machismo, don’t show up for their routine health screenings. The consequences can be fatal.
Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in 112 countries, and its prevalence is projected to double by 2040. While national screening programs that test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood have proven capable of reducing mortality by up to 20 percent, these programs are only as effective as the number of men willing to walk through the lab door. Yet, according to One For The Boys organization, many men don’t.
Cultural nuances, and in some cultural conditioning, plays a part in screening avoidance. The common stereotype is that “the idea that vulnerability is unmanly”, and that “silence is strength.” But the data shows that silence can have implications, especially when men delay medical help until their symptoms become impossible to ignore, treatment options narrow and outcomes actually worsen.
That’s where OFTB steps in. Founded in the United Kingdom, the organization has grown from a national charity into a global movement aimed at ending the stigma around male prostate cancer. Its founder, Sofia Davis, has a simple but radical message: men’s health deserves the same visibility, urgency, and empathy as women’s health has achieved over the past few decades. “Bringing Love Life to New York is about expanding the conversation and building a truly global movement,” said Davis. “Men in the U.S., like in the U.K., often don’t speak up about their health or receive the support they need when they need it. By hosting this event in New York, we’re not just putting the spotlight on male cancer, we’re inviting a wider community into the conversation.”
That conversation has been unfolding in unexpected places. In 2017, OFTB erected a pop-up clinic in London’s Canary Wharf called The Waiting Room, a sleek, inviting space designed to look more like a lounge than a medical office. Outfitted with gaming consoles, refreshments, and discreet health professionals, it offered men the chance to get checked while feeling seen, not scrutinized. The idea is simple: if men are reluctant to go to the doctor, bring the doctor to where men already hang: in public squares, at events, and at the heart of their daily lives. “We know guys don’t like going to the doctors, so it’s important to give them a reason to engage about their health,” said Davis. “Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be dull. We can have fun while raising awareness, this is about starting a conversation and making guys think twice.”
Back in NYC, thanks to Love Life gala, October 12th evening’s proceeds will support awareness campaigns, early screening initiatives, and research partnerships across both the US and the UK. But its deeper impact may be changing cultural awareness: reframing health as a shared act of love – for oneself and for the communities around us.