18th Annual Flea Market Raises $419,464 for BC/EFA

The 18th Annual Flea Market & Grand Auction held on Sunday, September 19, raised a grand total of $419,464 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA).

The Flea Market and Grand Auction is an annual outdoor fair in which Broadway, Off-Broadway and other members of the theatrical community donate and sell their wares to benefit BC/EFA. The event also included the Celebrity Table, where celebrities gathered throughout the day to sign autographs and pose for photos in exchange for donations. The climax of the day was the Grand Auction, in which truly unique and priceless items are auctioned off live to the highest bidder.

Among the day's highlights:

Surprise visits at the Celebrity Autograph Table and Photo booth by Bernadette Peters, Marian Seldes, and Drew Lachey.

Other Broadway and daytime stars made appearances at the Autograph Table throughout the day including Katherine Helmond, Michael McKean, Cy Coleman, Mario Cantone, Bebe Neuwirth, Marj Dusay, Tovah Feldshuh, Christine Ebersole, and Mark Collier.

Broadway stars including Avenue Q's John Tartaglia and Stephanie D'Ambruzzo and Wicked's Joey McIntyre pitching in and hawking wares at their respective show's booths.

Silent Auction announcer Jennifer Cody (Taboo, Urinetown) wearing a florescent orange wig that had been a costume piece in Aida.

The table that raised the most money this year was the booth hosted by the United Scenic Artists which raised $16,923.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund raising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American theater 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 it's founding in 1988, BC/EFA has distributed over $85 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, or HIV-related illnesses.