Broadway Bears Preview 8: Bellevue

BroadwayWorld presents the final entry 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.

Sweeney Todd Mrs. Lovett Bear (Signed by Patti LuPone and Stephen Sondheim)
Original Designer: John Doyle; Bear created by Terry Sipress

 
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Randle P. McMurphy Bear (signed by Kirk Douglas)
Original Designer: Noel Taylor; Bear created by Mark Applegate

Grey Gardens "Little" Edie Beale Bear (Signed by Christine Ebersole)
Original Designer: William Ivey Long; Bear created by Fay Koplovitz