BROADWAY BARES 19.0: "CLICK IT!" was an astounding success raising $808,819 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Both performances of BROADWAY BARES sold out faster than any previous edition with all 5,902 available tickets being sold by Friday, June 19.
The first BROADWAY BARES in 1992 featured seven dancers stripping on a bar and raised over $8,000. Since then, the 19 editions of BROADWAY BARES have collectively raised over $6.5 million to benefit BC/EFA. BROADWAY BARES 19.0: "CLICK IT!" was produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, created and executive produced by Tony Award®-winner Jerry Mitchell (Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde, Peepshow in Las Vegas), and was conceived and directed by Peter Gregus (Jersey Boys).
During the finale Nancy Mahon, the senior vice-president and executive director of The M•A•C AIDS Fund presented BC/EFA with a check for $125,000. Mahon was joined on stage by Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), Christopher Sieber (Shrek The Musical), BARES director Peter Gregus and BC/EFA producing director Michael Graziano for the check presentation. This marks M•A•C's 12th year sponsoring BROADWAY BARES. Since 1997, The M•A•C AIDS Fund has awarded BC/EFA $1,414,500. In addition to the generous cash donation, 65 M•A•C make up artists volunteered their time and talents to help make the evening a success.
The evening featured the work of 18 choreographers and 243 of the sexiest male and female dancers from Broadway's biggest shows baring nearly all to benefit BC/EFA.
Highlights from this year's BROADWAY BARES 19.0: "CLICK IT!" included:
· Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys, Forever Plaid) led the evening as the evening's central character, a young man who's spending the evening on his computer. Reichard was joined by Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show]) as ‘Widget' in an opening number written by David Nehls (The Great American Trailer Park Musical) entitled "Click It!"
· Broadway stars such as Gavin Creel (Hair), Sutton Foster (Shrek The Musical) and Allison Janney (9 to 5) helped bring bawdy laughter to the evening with scenes penned by Hunter Bell ([title of show]).
· In addition to the 243 dancers who stripped at BARES, some celebrities weren't afraid to bare some flesh to benefit BC/EFA. Celebrities such as Kevin Chamberlin (The Addams Family), Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid), Mo Rocca ("CBS Sunday Morning," "The Daily Show"), Whitney Thompson ("America's Next Top Model"), and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals, "Ugly Betty") all decided to show some skin in order to help the cause.
· BARES welcomed two superstars from the world of dance music to the stage. Kristine W, the international recording artist and dance music superstar and Billboard dance music chart topping vocalist Jason Walker. Kristine W performed a medley of five of her hits: "The Boss," "The Land of the Living," "Walk Away," "One More Try," and "Be All Right" during rotation. She was joined by dancers Michael Balderrama (In The Heights) and James Harkness (Guys & Dolls). Walker performed two songs over the course of the evening: "Set It Free" and "I Need Somebody to Love."
· For the show's finale, Reichard was joined on stage by Steel Burkhardt, Gavin Creel, and Bryce Ryness (all from the Tony Award winning revival of Hair) for rousing dance version of the disco classic "Got To Be Real." They were joined on stage by the over 200 dancers who helped make the evening a resounding success.
· Returning to serve as this year's rotation masters are Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek The Musical) and Jennifer Cody (Shrek The Musical).
This year $172,284 was raised via the 261 people who participated in "Strip-A-Thon," an online competition that allows fans of BROADWAY BARES to make contributions via BroadwayCares.org. Since it was started in 2006, over $440,000 has been raised via "Strip-A-Thon."
For the first year, "Strip-A-Thon" allowed people to form fundraising teams. The team that raised the most money was the "Shoes" team raising an amazing $31,184. The team comprised the 24 dancers who performed the "Foot Fetish" number at this year's BARES. The number was choreographed by Pamela Remler and Shea Sullivan.
This year's individual winner was Frankie James Grande who raised a staggering $14,161 for BC/EFA.
Male Runner-ups
First Runner-up (male): Steven Bratton $9,685
Second Runner-up (male): Ben Ryan $9,443
Female Runner-ups
First Runner-up (female): Jennifer Cody $7,210
Second Runner-up (female): Holly Ann Butler $4,560
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes and other critical illnesses across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $160 million dollars for critically needed services for people with AIDS and other serious illnesses. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers' Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide. For more information visit www.BroadwayCares.org.
