Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 21st Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION on Monday, December 7 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 8 (2 PM) at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway). The proceeds from the event will benefit BC/EFA.
This year's GYPSY OF THE YEAR will be hosted by Tony Award winner Julie White (The Understudy) and noted Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky ("Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio).
This year's judges include Ana Gasteyer (The Royal Family), John Glover (The Royal Family), Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone), Montego Glover (Memphis), BC/EFA's President and Jujamcyn Producing Director Paul Libin, Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime), Jim Norton (Finian's Rainbow), and longtime BC/EFA friend Marion Duckworth Smith.
This year's celebrity awards presenters will be two-time Tony Award winner and long-time BC/EFA friend and Trustee Bernadette Peters and Michael McKean (Superior Donuts).
Shows scheduled to present include: Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Hair, Jersey Boys, Naked Boys Singing, Newsical, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, Superior Donuts, West Side Story, and Wicked. This year the casts of Avenue Q and In The Heights will come together for a joint presentation.
This year's opening number is being created by Melissa Mahon, Sean McKnight, and Seth Farber. The number will be a parody of the hit Fox reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" and will feature a special appearance by season five contestant Ryan Kasprzak.
In addition, special performances from Keigwin + Company representing Dancers Responding to AIDS, Natasha Paremski representing Classical Action, and a piece representing gypsies from national touring productions is being created by choreographer Shea Sullivan and singer/composer Katie Thompson.
Cited as "possibly the season's most dazzling talent show," the GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION, the all-singing, all-dancing, all-dishing extravaganza, is easily the biggest party in town!
THE GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION is the culmination of six weeks of fund raising when shows on and Off-Broadway engage in a friendly competition to see which show can raise the most money for the organization. Awards are presented to the companies that raise the most money and for the winning presentation.
TO BUY TICKETS TO GYPSY OF THE YEAR: VIP and Priority tickets ($350 and $200) and other tickets ($110/$40/$20) can be purchased online at www.BroadwayCares.org, in person at BC/EFA (165 West 46th Street, Suite 1300), by phone at (212) 840-0770, or at the door the day of the event.
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
