Broadway Bears Preview 5: Ingenues

BroadwayWorld presents the fifth in an eight-part preview series leading up to the 10th Annual Broadway Bears auction, presented by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Over 40 Broadway Bears are available for online bidding at BC/EFA's website (pre-bids and phone bids are also accepted).  Hosted by Bryan Batt (La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast), the live auction will take place at B.B. King Blues Club and Grill (237 W. 42nd Street) on February 11th.

Lorna Kelly will return as auctioneer for the event, which will feature a parade of bears garbed as characters from Broadway shows.  A private reception and VIP advance preview will kick off the evening at 6 PM, followed by a general admission reception and display at 7 PM and the auction itself at 8 PM.  Among the special features this year will be bears dressed as characters from Broadway's ten longest-running musicals, including Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, Les Misérables, A Chorus Line, Oh! Calcutta, Beauty And The Beast, Miss Saigon, Rent, and Chicago.  Current and recent Broadway shows such as Jersey Boys, The Drowsy Chaperone, Grey Gardens, Sweeney Todd, The Boy from Oz and Wicked will also be represented among the bears.

 
Flower Drum Song Mei Li Bear
Original Designer: Irene Sharaff; Bear created by Gene Barth

Hello, Dolly! Minnie Fay Bear (Signed by Sondra Lee)
Original Designer: Freddy Wittop; Bear created by Robert Strong Miller

Into the Woods Little Red Bear (Signed by Danielle Ferland and Stephen Sondheim)
Original Designer: Ann Hould-Ward; Bear created by Julie Song

Les Miserables Cosette Bear (Signed by Judy Kuhn)
Original Designer: Adreane Neofitou; Bear created by Richard St. Clair

Once On This Island Ti Moune Bear
Original Designer: Judy Dearing; Bear created by Sarah Convers-Conte

Once Upon a Mattress Princess Winnifred Bear (Signed by Sarah Jessica Parker)
Original Designer: Jane Greenwood; Bear created by Sarah Convers-Conte

The King and I Eliza Bear (Signed by Donna Murphy)
Original Designer: Roger Kirk; Bear created by Vita Buscemi

The Phantom of the Opera Christine Daae Bear (signed by Sandra Joseph, Jennifer Hope Wills, Hal Prince, Howard McGillin and Julie Hanson)
Original Designer: Maria Bjornson; Bear created by Noel Noblitt