Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together on Sunday, February 11, at the "Broadway Bears X" auction, which raised a grand total of $130,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
The event was hosted by Bryan Batt with Lorna Kelly reprising her role as auctioneer. Forty three specially made Broadway Bears - each dressed in original, handmade costumes representing the theater's most legendary characters - were auctioned to the highest bidder in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. To date The Broadway Bears have raised well over $1.35 million to benefit Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. Last year's "Broadway Bears" raised $112,000.
Top bids for bears were the $8,000 Mary Poppins bear, signed by Julie Andrews and Ashley Brown, the $6,500 The Phantom of the Opera bear, signed by Sandra Joseph and Hal Prince and the $6,000 A Chorus Line bears (17 bears in total), signed by the entire revival cast. Several Broadway stars dropped by to lend their support to the event including Jane Carr, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Felicia Finley, Andrea Martin, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Smith and Josh Strickland, among others. Other stars participated by lending their autographs to the various bears that were auctioned off, including Mel Brooks, Kirk Douglas, Nathan Lane, Cyndi Lauper, Patti LuPone, Donna Murphy, Rosie O'Donnell, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Martin Short.
For more information, please visit the BC/EFA website at www.BroadwayCares.org.
Nathan Detroit Bear, Guys and Dolls 1992 Revival - $1,100
Princess Winnifred Bear, Once Upon a Mattress 1996 revival - $2,200
Designer John Henson with Benjamin Coffin III Bear, Rent, 1996 - $1,000
Oliver Twist Bear, Oliver!, 1963 - $900
Vita Buscemi with Eliza Bear, The King and I, 1996 Revival - $3,200
Mrs. Lovett Bear, Sweeney Todd, 2005 Revival - $1,700
Terry Sipress with Mrs. Lovett Bear
Finale Bear, The Pajama Game, 2006 Revival - $1,100
Leaf Coneybear Bear, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, 2005 - $3,000
Robert Strong Miller with Minnie Fay Bear, Hello, Dolly!, 1964 - $1,000
Tricorne Inc. Rep wiht Grinch Bear, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, 2006 - $4,000
Peter Allen Bear, The Boy from Oz, 2003 - $1,700
The Pirate Jenny Bear, The Threepenny Opera, 2006 Revival Bear - $1,000
Linda Bear, The Wedding Singer, 2006 - $5,000
Mei Li Bear, Flower Drum Song, 1958- $2,600
Robert Jordon with Ich Bin Kunst Bear, Taboo, 2003 - $900
Annie Bear, Annie, 1977 - $3,000
Radames Bear, Aida, 2000 - $1,500
Brionna McMahon with Little Old Lady Bear, The Producers, 2001 - $4,000 and Miss Dole Pineapple Bear, My One and Only, 1983 - $2,600
Karl A. Ruckdeshel with Lucy the Slut Bear, Avenue Q, 2003 - $3,000
Stephanie D'Abruzzo with Lucy the Slut Bear
Cosette Bear, Les Miserables, 1987 - $2,200
Dracula Bear, Dracula, the Musical, 2004 - $1,100
Will-A-Mania Bear, The Will Rogers Follies, 1991 - $1,600
Ti Moune Bear, Once On This Island, 1990 - $900
Dr. Carrasco as the Knight of the Mirrors Bear, Man of La Mancha, 1965 - $3,000
Sherlock Holmes Bear, Baker Street, 1965 - $2,400
Randle P. McMurphy Bear, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, 1963 - $1,100
Little Red Bear, Into the Woods, 1987 - $3,600
Shug Avery Bear, The Color Purple, 2005 - $4,500
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Crocodile Bear, Peter Pan, 1979 Revival - $3,000
Tarzan Bear, Tarzan, 2006 - $2,600
Superman Bear, It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman, 1966 - $3,500
Bustopher Jones Bear, Cats, 1982 - $4,250
"Little" Edie Beale Bear, Grey Gardens, 2006 - $4,250
Richard St. Clair with Nicholas Nickleby Bear, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, 1981 - $2,000
Sam Hill with The Black Knight Bear, Spamalot, 2005 - $4,600
Christopher Sieber with the Black Knight Bear
Sheep Bear, Candide, 1997 Revival - $800
Rosi Zingales with Frankie Valli, Jersey Boys Bear, 2006 -$4,250 and Jiminy Glick Bear, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, 2006 - $800
Mary Poppins Bear, Mary Poppins, 2006 - $8,000
Auctioneer Lorna Kelly with Mary Poppins Bear
Christine Daae Bear, The Phantom of the Opera, 1987 - $6,500
Fanny Brice Tonner Doll, Funny Girl, 1964 - $3,600
Joseph Petrollese with Fanny Brice doll
A Chorus Line Bears, 1975 - $6,000
Stephanie Fine with Kiss Me, Kate dolls - $800
Kiss Me, Kate dolls
