Donors Bring 'Gypsy of the Year' Total to Over $3 Million
By: BWW News Desk Dec. 07, 2006
At the end of Tuesday's 18th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition, it was announced that an impressive $2,972,721 for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.
"Unbeknownst to anyone, an unexpected third act of Gypsy of the Year 2006 was about to play out, with an even happier ending," according to BC/EFA.
After the "Gypsy of the Year" curtain came down, a post-event party at was held at Sardi's. BC/EFA president Paul Libin, generously sponsored by Playbill, presented Tom Viola, BC/EFA executive director, with a $10,000 check from Jujamcyn Theaters as well as his own personal check for $5,000 which brought the grand total to $3,007,827.
Unaware of Libin's donation the night before, the following day, Joe McGinnis, BC/EFA major donor and one of the producers of Spring Awakening, who had also been in the show's audience, sent in a check for $7,200 – thinking he was jumping the event over the $3 million mark – but in fact bringing the day's grant total to: $3,015,027.
To date, the 18 editions of the competition have raised a combined total of $28,764,000 to benefit BC/EFA.
This year, the Broadway production of The Color Purple raised the most money of any show this period with $194,500. Jersey Boys was the fourth runner up with $133,250, The Phantom of the Opera the third runner up with $153,800, The Drowsy Chaperone the second runner up with $185,900, and Wicked the runner up with $192,900.
Special awards were given for the top fundraising Broadway play, Off-Broadway company, and touring company. This year the top fundraising play was The Little Dog Laughed with $44,330, The Clean House took the Off-Broadway award for raising $26,700 and Wicked - Chicago Shiz Company took the touring prize for raising $175,000.
The results of this year's presentation awards were: (first runner up tie) The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, with The Color Purple as the winner.
Jonathan Hadary and Marin Mazzie (Spamalot) hosted this year's event with Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) and Martin Short (Fame Becomes Me) joining them onstage during the awards presentation.
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 theatrical community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since it's founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $100 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, or HIV-related illnesses.
For further information, please call (212) 840-0770 ext. 268.
For more information, visit: />.www.BroadwayCares.org
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