Last night at the inaugural BROADWAY BARES: SOLO STRIPS at Splash, it was announced that a $1 million fundraising goal has been set for the 20th edition of BROADWAY BARES.
The announcement was made via videotaped message by BROADWAY BARES creator Jerry Mitchell (Tony Award winner, director/choreographer of Legally Blonde and choreographer of the upcoming Love Never Dies, Catch Me If You Can).
Jerry Mitchell said, "BROADWAY BARES has always had extremely generous audiences who have helped us raise over $6.5 million to benefit BC/EFA. But this year to celebrate our 20th edition, I want to go all out, so I'm challenging all the BARES hotties and all our fans to help us raise $1 million to benefit BC/EFA. Sunday's SOLO STRIPS is just the first in a series of nationwide events that will help us reach this goal. In exchange, I promise to make BROADWAY BARES 20, the best one yet."
Michael Graziano, BC/EFA's Producing Director said, "Last year we raised an astounding total, but there are a limited number of tickets we can sell at Roseland Ballroom and let's face it, g-strings can only hold a limited amount of cash. So we decided to hold smaller events throughout the spring to help us reach our $1 million goal. Sunday's SOLO STRIPS was the first of what we plan to be a series of ventures to help us reach this total."
BROADWAY BARES 20 will be held Sunday, June 20 at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street) with two shows (9:30 PM & midnight). Ticketing information will be announced in the coming months.
Last night's inaugural BROADWAY BARES: SOLO STRIPS was a resounding success with two capacity crowds at Splash to see seven of Broadway's hottest men strip to raise money for BC/EFA. SOLO STRIPS was a return to the origins of BROADWAY BARES when, in 1992, Jerry Mitchell organized a burlesque show featuring himself and six friends performing original strips on the bar at Splash.
The inaugural BROADWAY BARES: SOLO STRIPS dancers were: Joshua Buscher (West Side Story, Broadway Bares 19), John Carroll (A Chorus Line national tour, Broadway Bares 18 poster boy, Broadway Bares 19), Daniel Robinson (Hairspray, Broadway Bares 18 & 19 featured dancer), Anton Harrison LaMon (The Phantom of the Opera, Movin' Out national tour, Broadway Bares 19), Tony James (The Lion King, Broadway Bares 16, 17, 18, featured dancer), Nick Kenkel (Peep Show, Legally Blonde, from Broadway Bares 11-18 ), and Kenway Kua (Wicked, The Frogs, Broadway Bares 17). Photos from the event will be posted shortly to www.BroadwayBares.com.
Actress and recording artist Felicia Finley (Catch Me If You Can, The Wedding Singer, solo album Great Mood for a Tuesday), acted as emcee for the evening and opened the show with a cover of the Foreigner classic "Feels Like the First Time."
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 $170 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
Follow BC/EFA on Twitter: @BCEFA. Find BC/EFA on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BCEFA. For more information on BROADWAY BARES or SOLO STRIPS, please visit: www.BroadwayBares.com or www.BroadwayCares.org.
