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Gypsy of the Year raises $2.75 mil

By: Dec. 08, 2004
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The 16th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $2,754,631 had been raised by the 55 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

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This year the Broadway production of WICKED raised the most money of any show this period with $362,918.

THE GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION is the culmination of six weeks of intensive fundraising where New York's most talented "gypsies," chorus members from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, join in a competition/variety show as six weeks of intensive fundraising by the community come to a close.

 

This year's competition ended with the following dollar figures:


Fifth Runner Up:
RENT
$144,178

Fourth Runner Up:
THE LION KING
$150,822

Third Runner Up:
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
$151,124

Second Runner Up:
MAMMA MIA!
$154,032

Runner up:
AVENUE Q
$154,208

Top Fundraiser:
WICKED
$362,918

 

Special awards were given for the top fundraising Broadway play, Off-Broadway company, and touring company. This year the top fundraising play was TWELVE ANGRY MEN with $110,724, MENOPAUSE: THE MUSICAL took the Off-Broadway award for raising $13,200 and MAMMA MIA! took the touring prize for raising $147,929.

 
The results of this year's presentation awards were:


First Runner Up:
WICKED


Winner:
THE LION KING

 

Bruce Villanch (Hairspray) hosted this year's event with Brooke Shields, and Whoopi Goldberg joining him onstage during the awards presentation.

This year's celebrity judges included Mario Cantone (Laugh Whore), Cherry Jones (Doubt), Tovah Feldshuh (Golda's Balcony) and Jai Rodriquez ("Queer Eye For The Straight Guy").  They were introduced by the irrepressible Dame Edna Everage.

Highlights from this year's presentations including Avenue Q's Rick Lyon's accompanied by the puppet Nicky who sang "It's Not Easy Being Green" which he dedicated to fellow green-skinned actress Idina Menzel (Wicked), the cast of 42nd Street in their final Gypsy of The Year appearance recreating portions of the opening number, the cast of Bombay Dreams featuring Tamyra Gray singing a number called "Minorities Encouraged."

 
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.

 

THE GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION is sponsored by:

The New York Times and Continental Airlines, the official airlines of BC/EFA

 

For more information, visit: http://www.broadwaycares.org/




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