Tony Award® winning choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde, La Cage aux Folles, Hairspray) discussed and signed copies of his new book "Broadway Bares: Backstage Pass" on Friday June 27th at the Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle (Broadway at 66th Street). Mitchell was joined by past stars and poster boys and girls of Broadway Bares Angie Schworer (The Producers), Sebastian La Cause (Rocky Horror Show), Michael Curry (Cabaret), Matthew Risch (Legally Blonde), and Julio Agustin (Never Gonna Dance).
Press notes describe BACKSTAGE PASS as "The book you've all been waiting for-- a titillating photographic chronicle of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS's annual Broadway Bares event! Event creator and Executive Producer Jerry Mitchell's book features sizzling behind-the-scene photos, performance shots, and stunning studio stills of men and women from the Broadway stage who have been a part of this spectacular burlesque event over the years. It includes as little text as costumes worn in the show, but the history is succinctly outlined and mentions the names of the A-list celebrities who have proudly participated in the proceedings, including Cyndi Lauper, Alan Cumming, David Hyde Pierce and Nathan Lane
BACKSTAGE PASS is the photographic chronicle of how one bright young man in a loincloth, dancing atop a giant drum on a Broadway stage, began one of the Great White Way's most worthy and exciting traditions! Future Tony®-winner Jerry Mitchell was amazed at the tremendous attention his nearly naked body garnered in Tommy Tune's production of The Will Rogers Follies in 1990. He quickly capitalized on this fascination with exposed skin to raise funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Over the next 18 years, this "ah-ha" moment grew into the annual tradition that is Broadway Bares —an event where the most beautiful bodies of New York City's theatre community take it all off and do what they do best—strut their stuff!"
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American Theatre community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $140 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or HIV-related illnesses.
Copies of BackstagePass will be available for purchase online at the Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS web store – www.broadwaycares.org
Photos by Peter James Zielinski
Jerry Mitchell at Barnes and Noble
The Broadway Bares Book on shelves now
Jerry Mitchell
Matthew Risch
Julio Agustin
Angie Schworer
Angie Schworer
Jerry Mitchell
Jerry Mitchell and the cast
Jerry Mitchell
Jerry Mitchell
Jerry Mitchell and the cast
Jerry Mitchell and the cast
Jerry Mitchell
Michael Curry, Julio Agustin, Sebastian La Cause, Matthew Risch and Angie Schorer
Jerry Mitchell
Michael Curry, Sebastian La Cause, Jerry Mitchell, Angie Schworer, Matthew Risch, and Julio Agustin
