BC/EFA Doubles Down on BROADWAY BETS; Second Annual Poker Tournament to be Held in May

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is doubling down on Broadway Bets, Broadway's official poker tournament, which will return for its second edition on Monday, May 16, 2016. The spirited annual event will welcome celebrities, industry insiders and poker-faced theatre fans to Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th Street), New York City's iconic theatre district restaurant.

Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares, Broadway Bets (#BroadwayBets) gives the theatre community an opportunity to play in a friendly Texas Hold 'em tournament for an important cause. From first-time players to poker aces, everybody's welcome and anyone can win. Facing off against each other, players will compete to become the second Broadway Bets champion. Prizes will be awarded for to players who make the final table.

Doors for Broadway Bets open for cocktails at 7:30 pm; tournament play begins at 8 pm. All ticketing levels include hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. Tickets are available now at broadwaycares.org.

The event is co-chaired by Lauren Reid, CEO of the theater division at Key Brand Entertainment, and Al Nocciolino, president & CEO of NAC Entertainment Ltd. Paul Libin, executive vice president of Jujamcyn Theaters and BC/EFA Board of Trustees president, and Robert E. Wankel, president and co-CEO of The Shubert Organization and BC/EFA executive vice president, serve as founding co-chairs.

Micah Hollingworth of Jujamcyn Theaters, Mark Shacket of Foresight Theatrical and Brett Sirota of The Road Company will serve as tournament directors.

Stepping up as the initial table sponsors for this year's event are AKA, Ambassador Theater Group, The Araca Group, Broadway.com/Key Brand Entertainment, Foresight Theatrical, Independent Presenters Network, Jujamcyn Theaters, Nederlander Organization, The Road Company, Serino/Coyne, The Shubert Organization, SpotCo and Ticketmaster.

Texas Hold 'em-style tournaments begin with each player receiving an equal amount of chips. Two blinds are posted per hand to force the action. As play progresses, the amount of the blind bets increase. As players drop out, tables are combined until there is one final table of players competing for the championship title.

For those not quite ready to go "all in," Broadway Bets guest passes offer a chance to observe the poker table action and play other casino games with an opportunity to win prizes. All prizes will be announced later this spring.

Last year's inaugural tournament raised an incredible $137,200 as Bill Paness, controller for The Shubert Organization, bested IATSE Local 311 member Eric Castaldo and a final Broadway Bets table of eight other players to become the first Broadway Bets champion.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Broadway Cares is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, and awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states.