BROADWAY BARES to Release Original 'Openings' CD, 6/20; Now Accepting Pre-Orders

In celebration of the 20th edition of BROADWAY BARES, Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS and Jerry Mitchell are proud to announce the upcoming release of BROADWAY BARES OPENINGS, a CD of 13 original opening numbers from BC/EFA's popular annual burlesque show. Each song is recorded by the Broadway stars who debuted them on the BROADWAY BARES stage.

Pre-orders for the album are being accepted now at www.BroadwayBares.com and the album will be officially released Sunday, June 20 at this year's BROADWAY BARES.

All proceeds from BROADWAY BARES OPENINGS will benefit BC/EFA. To listen to audio clips of some of the songs featured on the album, visit: http://broadwaybares.com/media-music.html

BROADWAY BARES OPENINGS features vocals by such Broadway luminaries as Shoshana Bean, Mary Birdsong, Heidi Blickenstaff, Tituss Burgess, Sara Gettelfinger, Debbie Gravitte, Jane Krakowski, Leslie Kritzer, Anika Larsen, Andrew Lippa, Euan Morton, Julia Murney, Mo Rocca, Christopher Sieber, and Lillias White.

Songwriting teams represented include: Gary Adler and Laura Kenyon, Jeff Bowen, Andrew Lippa, David Nehls, and Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

BROADWAY BARES creator and executive producer Jerry Mitchell expressed his thoughts on the upcoming CD release, "A great strip always starts with a great tune and this is just the beginning! Now you too can be the stripper you always wanted to be in the privacy of your own bedroom with this first BROADWAY BARES CD. Have fun!"

BC/EFA Producing Director Michael Graziano said, "People have been asking about getting a copy of these songs for years, so BC/EFA was thrilled when Mike Croiter and Yellow Sound Lab volunteered to take on the project, re-mastering all the original orchestrations and recording new vocals. And best of all, 100% of the proceeds are benefiting the charity. It's fantastic!"

Shoshana Bean, who recorded "Doctor's Orders," written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman from BROADWAY BARES 15 said, "Revisiting this sexy and seductive tune made me wanna take off all my clothes and get naked for a good cause again!"

Julia Murney, who recorded "Comic Strip" penned by Andrew Lippa for BROADWAY BARES 12 said, "Singing 'Comic Strip' at BROADWAY BARES is probably the closest I'll ever get to feeling like a rock star: grinding guitars, hot dancing chicks, a screaming sea of humanity filling every sweaty nook and cranny of Roseland."

Euan Morton, who will be singing "The Best Game in Town," the opening number by David Nehls for the upcoming edition of BROADWAY BARES said, "What an honour to be involved in this exciting project! The only downside of listening to "The Best Game in Town" on CD is that you won't see the girls flashing the crowd!!"

Pre-orders for the album are being accepted now at www.BroadwayBares.com and the album will be officially released Sunday, June 20 at this year's BROADWAY BARES held at Roseland Ballroom.

BROADWAY BARES is the hotly anticipated annual event combining the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of Broadway and has been a smashing success since its inception in 1992. The event features the hottest male and female dancers on Broadway and has become one of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS' signature events. The 2010 edition, BROADWAY BARES XX: "STRIP-OPOLY" will be held at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street) on Sunday, June 20 with performances at 9:30 PM and midnight. For tickets, information, and merchandise, visit www.BroadwayBares.com<http://www.BroadwayBares.com>.

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 over $175 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers' Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.

For more information, please visit the BC/EFA website at www.broadwaycares.org.