At three consecutive Saturday matinees starting November 22nd, the cast of EQUUS on Broadway will auction off the Lucky Brand jeans worn in the play by its young star Daniel Radcliffe as part of the company's campaign to raise money for the annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fall fundraising drive. Following the 2 p.m. matinee performances on Saturdays November 22, November 29 and December 6, audience members can bid for Mr. Radcliffe's costume jeans - autographed (live!) by Mr. Radcliffe - during a brief and merry onstage auction at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44 St.) where EQUUS is being performed through February 8, 2009.
The jeans being auctioned to the highest bidder at these performances are worn throughout the performance of EQUUS by Daniel Radcliffe, who portrays Alan Strang, a mild-mannered stable boy with a dark, mysterious secret that finally comes to light when he meets and is seduced by a beautiful young woman - a scene during which the two young actors appear naked and Mr. Radcliffe removes the jeans to-be-auctioned.
While declining to quote the exact amount raised so far by EQUUS, a company member did admit the figure is in the tens-of-thousands of dollars and expressed gratitude to the audiences who have given so generously to the fund-drive thus far.
Highlights of previous post-show auctions at EQUUS have included such unique items as EQUUS co-star Richard Griffiths' autographed "Space Pen," which he uses in the play ($1000), and co-star Kate Mulgrew's rehearsal script autographed by the entire cast. The latter pulled in $2,000 from one of Kate's loyal "Star Trek: Voyager" fans. Previously, t-shirts worn by Mr. Radcliffe have sold for up to $800.
EQUUS is Peter Shaffer's play about a stable boy (Daniel Radcliffe) who has committed a serious crime, and the court-appointed psychiatrist (Richard Griffiths) who is charged with revealing the mysteries behind the boy's behavior while confronting his own self-doubt in his marriage, his profession and his life.
Daniel Radcliffe is best known for playing the title role in all five of the "Harry Potter" films to date, and he will star again in the sixth, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," due out July 2009.
Under the direction of Thea Sharrock, the current hit Broadway production of EQUUS opened on September 25 for a strictly limited engagement through February 8, 2009.
EQUUS plays Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8pm, plus Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets range from $116.50 to $61.50. Fifty-two seats located on stage are on sale for every performance. For ticket reservations call Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.
For more information about EQUUS, visit www.EquusOnBroadway.com.
Photo by Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
