Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together on Sunday, May 21 at the "Broadway Bears IX" auction, which raised a grand total of $114,638.
The event was hosted by
Bryan Batt with Lorna Kelly reprising her role as auctioneer. Forty-three specially made Broadway Bears - each dressed in original, handmade costumes representing the theater's most legendary characters - were auctioned to the highest bidder in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. To date The Broadway Bears have raised well over $1.2 million to benefit Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. Last year's Broadway Bears raised $116,817.
Top bids for bears were the $8,250
Avenue Q bear, featuring an "actor" bear with a smaller puppet bear of Rod, the Republican with a secret, signed by
John Tartaglia; $5,500
The Color Purple Sophia bear signed by Felicia F. Fields and Oprah Winfrey, the $4,800
Spamalot King Arthur bear signed by Broadway's original King Arthur
Tim Curry and the $4,000
Doubt Sister Aloysius bear signed by
Cherry Jones.
Several Broadway stars dropped by to lend their support to the event including
John Lloyd Young,
Elizabeth Parkinson, and
Kerry Butler among others. Other stars participating by lending their autographs to the various bears that were auctioned off, including
Julie Andrews,
Matthew Broderick,
Billy Crystal,
Sandy Duncan,
Elton John,
Angela Lansbury, Rosie O'Donnell,
Chita Rivera, and
Barbra Streisand.
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 the BC/EFA website at
www.BroadwayCares.org.
