As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Sunday's BROADWAY BARES XX: "STRIP-OPOLY" made history by raising $1,015,985 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
This marks the first time in BROADWAY BARES history that the $1 million dollar mark was reached, a goal that had been set this January by BARES creator and executive producer, Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.
This year's total shatters the previous fundraising record which was set in 2008 when $874,000 was raised. The first BROADWAY BARES, in 1992, featured seven dancers stripping on a bar and raised more than $8,000. To date, the 20 editions of BROADWAY BARES have raised more than $7.5 million for BC/EFA.
Jerry Mitchell said in a statement, "We did it! I'm so overcome with emotion at all of the hard work that went into making our dream a reality. I want to thank everyone who has put in countless hours to help make this happen. Some people thought it couldn't be done, especially in today's economy, but we did. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I couldn't imagine a more spectacular way to celebrate 20 editions of BROADWAY BARES for Broadway Cares."
BROADWAY BARES XX: "STRIP-OPOLY" was produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS lead by producing director Michael Graziano, executive produced by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Love Never Dies, Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde), and was directed by Josh Rhodes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Fosse) and associate director Lee Wilkins (Spamalot, Wonderful Town).
The evening featured the work of 15 choreographers and 216 of the sexiest male and female dancers from Broadway's biggest shows baring nearly all to benefit BC/EFA. A $150,000 check from M·A·C Viva Glam was presented to BC/EFA by M·A·C's Senior Vice President Jennifer Balbier who also saluted the extraordinary skills of 93 M·A·C make-up artists who worked on the show.
Highlights from this year's BROADWAY BARES XX: "STRIP-OPOLY" included:
· Kristin Chenoweth, Euan Morton, and Vanessa Williams performing the side-splitting opening number "The Best Game in Town" by David Nehls (The Great American Trailer Park Musical) which featured Chenoweth and Williams rising on a bright red swing over the adoring crowd.
· Joshua Buscher showed off tremendous assets and an amazing stimulus package as the featured strip in "The Bank."
· Special guest appearances were made by Lucy Liu on behalf of "the community chest," while Jackie Hoffman sent Katie Finneran "directly to jail" for stealing scenes, a reference to her Tony winning performances in both Promises, Promises and Noises Off.
· Felicia Finley and Rachelle Rak turned the heat up on "Connecticut Avenue" as a Stepford wife introduced to the community's new, rowdy neighbor.
· The crowd went wild over the "Boardwalk" which featured Broadway actors playing the cast of the hit MTV show "Jersey Shore" including Jennifer Cody as ‘Snookie' and John Carroll as ‘The Situation.'
· BROADWAY BARES XX poster boy Charlie Williams appeared as an attentive bell hop who ended up in only a wash-cloth when repeatedly answering the call for "more towels, please" from statuesque hotel guests, played by some of La Cage Aux Folles' Cagelles.
· Kyle DesChamps and a host of hot inmates lost their stripes and turned the tables on their warden, played by BARES favorite Sebastian LaCause in "Go to Jail."
