TV EXCLUSIVE: GYPSY OF THE YEAR - Original Cast of GREASE Highlights
By: Robert Diamond Dec. 06, 2011
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Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and today, Tuesday, December 6 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers. Now we've got the first video highlights from Broadway Beat - enjoy!
This year’s Gypsy of the Year was again hosted by Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky, host of "Seth’s Big Fat Broadway" on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. The all-singing, all-dancing Gypsy of the Year is the culmination of six weeks of intensive fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. It's also a sensational display of the most talented singers and dancers in the ensemble of shows, known as "gypsies." Awards are presented to the top fundraisers and for the best presentation during the two performances.
Last year, Gypsy of the Year raised $3,776,720, pushing the competition's 22-year total to $44,136,720. This year's grand total reached a whopping $4,895,253! The competition's fundraising awards were presented today by Hugh Jackman (Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway), Bernadette Peters (Follies) and Daniel Radcliffe (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying).
The numbers are in and BroadwayWorld brings you a hot-off-the-press breakdown of this year's big winners!
Broadway (Musical):
Top Fundraiser How to Succeed in Business $325,935
1st Runner-Up The Book of Mormon $315,968
2nd Runner-Up Wicked $240,809
3rd Runner-Up Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark $197,285
4th Runner-Up Follies $186,405
Broadway (Play):
Other Desert Cities $77,712
Off-Broadway (Play or Musical):
Top Fundraiser Rent $43,300
National Tours:
Top Fundraiser Wicked – Munchkinland $326,902
1st Runner-Up Wicked – Emerald City $316,299
2nd Runner-Up Mary Poppins $169,709
3rd Runner-Up Jersey Boys $157,831
Special Award for Largest Amount Raised - Hugh Jackman BACK ON BROADWAY
Talent:
Winner- BILLY ELLIOT
1st Runner Up - MARY POPPINS
Celebrity presenters this year included Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Danny Burstein (Follies), Russell Fischer (Jersey Boys), Beth Leavel (Standing on Ceremony: the Gay Marriage Plays), Judith Light (Other Desert Cities), Michele Mais (Rock of Ages), Jan Maxwell (Follies) and Patrick Page (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark).
Judges included Stephanie J. Block (Anything Goes), director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun (Bonnie & Clyde, Newsies), Kim Cattrall (Private Lives), Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Paul Libin (Executive Vice President of Jujamcyn Theaters and President of the BC/EFA Board of Trustees) and Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert). Also joiningthe panel are Stephanie Toups and Karen Walter, who both won judging spots by being high bidders on exclusive VIP packages at the 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.
This year's show also included an emotional final Gypsy of the Year appearance by the Broadway cast of Billy Elliot, which will close January 8. During its three-year run, the company of Billy Elliot raised more than $1 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Other shows that performed at Gypsy of the Year included The Addams Family, Anything Goes, The Awesome 80s Prom, Chicago, Follies, How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Memphis, Naked Boys Singing, NEWSical the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, Silence! The Musical, Sister Act and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
The opening number featured the original Broadway cast of Grease reuniting for a special 40-year anniversary tribute. Among the stars returning to the stage from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history are Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino) and Walter Bobbie (Roger). Also joining the opening number reunion are original cast members Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene Florczyk ), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady) and Mews Small (Frenchy). Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, garnered seven Tony Award nominations and played 3,388 Broadway performances before closing April 13, 1980.
For more information, visit broadwaycares.org
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