Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS is pleased to announce Tyne Daly and Jonathan Hadary, the hosts of the first GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION, will return to help kick off the 20th Anniversary of the all-singing, all-dancing, all-dishing Broadway spectacular that has become the must see event for the New York theatrical community.
The 20TH ANNUAL GYPSY OF THE YEAR will be held Monday, December 8 at 4:30 PM and Tuesday, December 9 at 2 PM at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street) with Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky (The Ritz, host of Sirius Satellite Radio's "Seth's Big Fat Broadway") serving as host. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Tom Viola, executive director of BC/EFA said, "I'm thrilled that Tyne and Jonathan will be back to help us mark the 20th Anniversary of THE GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION with Broadway's own Seth Rudetsky joining us as this year's host. Tyne and Jonathan have always been great friends to BC/EFA, but to have them return 20 years later and see how much the event has grown will be a very special moment. I offer our deepest appreciation not only to Tyne, Jonathan, and Seth, but to the thousands of people in the Broadway community and theatres across the country who have over the last 20 years helped BC/EFA reach out to so many facing the on-going challenges of HIV/AIDS and other serious health issues."
The first GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION was presented in 1989 at the St. James Theatre, which, at the time, was home to the just opened revival of Gypsy which starred future Tony Awardâ winner Tyne Daly as 'Rose' and Tony Award nominee Jonathan Hadary as 'Herbie.' Hadary hosted the event and Daly graciously agreed to welcome the audience at the top of the show to this brand new fundraising event for the then fledging BC/EFA.
An estimated 800 people showed up each putting $5 in a collection box at the door and took an unreserved seat for a show that consisted of 12 presentations by the Broadway and Off-Broadway shows that had been raising money for Broadway Cares.
At that first GYPSY OF THE YEAR, $64,000 was raised with 12 productions participating. Last year, over $3.5 million was raised with over 64 Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring productions fundraising and 18 creating on-stage presentations. Since its inception, the 19 editions of GYPSY OF THE YEAR have raised over $32.5 million to benefit BC/EFA.
This year's GYPSY OF THE YEAR will feature on-stage presentations by 15 companies including: 13; August: Osage County; Equus; Grease; Gypsy; Hairspray; In The Heights; Mamma Mia!; Naked Boys Singing; Rock of Ages; Monty Python's Spamalot; South Pacific; The Lion King; The Little Mermaid and The Marvelous Wonderettes (with possibly more to come).
