BC/EFA Flea Market & Grand Auction Raises $505,832!

The 20th Annual Flea Market & Grand Auction held on Sunday, September 24, raised a grand total of $505,832 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). Since its debut in 1987, the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction has raised $6,551,418.

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.

There were 56 tables stretched across Shubert Alley and West 44th Street. The booth that raised the most money this year was the booth hosted by the United Scenic Artists which raised $24,311. The show booth that raised the most money was The Phantom of the Opera which raised $13,230.

Broadway and daytime stars made appearances on the patio at Junior's for the Autograph Table throughout the day including Michael Arden; Michael Beresse; Mario Cantone; Victoria Clark; Jason Danieley; Georgia Engel; Eden Espinoza; Edie Falco; Harvey Fierstein; David Garrison; Richard Griffiths; Christian Hoff; Carol Kane; Richard Kind; La Chanze; Beth Leavel; Norm Lewis; Marin Mazzie; Jesse Martin; Andrea McArdle; Matthew Morrison Bebe Neuwirth; Daniel Reichard; Marion Seldes; Martin Short; Josh Strickland, John Tartaglia; Patrick Wilson; Jacob Young; John Lloyd Young; and dozens of others.

Highlights from this year's 72 piece silent auction included the original stage door from the Nederlander Theatre signed by the original cast of Rent, which sold for $2,300, and a backstage celebrity autograph book donated by the company of Avenue Q, which sold for $1,300.

This year's grand auction of 58 "lots" included the original Avenue Q "Trekkie Monster" puppet created by Rick Lyon, along with a special puppet lesson, which sold for $10,500. A pair of orchestra seats to the opening night celebration and party of Les Miserables on November 9, 2006 went for $9,500 and walk-on roles in the hit Broadway musicals Jersey Boys and Rent went for $8,500 each.

We must acknowledge the death of actor and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS longtime supporter - Patrick Quinn, who passed away the morning of the event.

"To hear of Patrick Quinn's death, particularly on this day is unimaginable," said Executive Director Tom Viola. "Patrick was a founding member of Equity Fights AIDS and then First Vice President of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. His enthusiasm and generous spirit helped create and nurture the organization we are today. I know that the sunshine we had during what was supposed to be a rainy Sunday came at Pat's heavenly instigation – his insistence if he could not be there with us in Shubert Alley. We will miss him dearly and remember him always."

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 $100 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, or HIV-related illnesses.

For more information, please visit BC/EFA online at www.BroadwayCares.org