Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters, Daniel Radcliffe & More to Present Gypsy of the Year Awards

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, to be presented Monday, December 5 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 5 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 W. 42nd Street), will feature performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.

The competition's fundraising awards will be presented Tuesday by Hugh Jackman (Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway), Bernadette Peters (Follies) and Daniel Radcliffe (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying).

Celebrity presenters scheduled to appear at both shows include Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Danny Burstein (Follies), Russell Fischer (Jersey Boys), Beth Leavel (Standing on Ceremony: the Gay Marriage Plays), Judith Light (Other Desert Cities), Michele Mais (Rock of Ages), Jan Maxwell (Follies) and Patrick Page (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark).

Judges include Stephanie J. Block (Anything Goes), director and choreographer Jeff Calhoun (Bonnie & Clyde, Newsies), Kim Cattrall (Private Lives), Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Paul Libin (Executive Vice President of Jujamcyn Theaters and President of the BC/EFA Board of Trustees) and Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert). Also joining the panel are Stephanie Toups and Karen Walter, who both won judging spots by being high bidders on exclusive VIP packages at the 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.

This year's show will include an emotional final Gypsy of the Year appearance by the Broadway cast of Billy Elliot, which will close January 8. During its three-year run, the company of Billy Elliot raised more than $1 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Other shows scheduled to perform at Gypsy of the Year include The Addams Family, Anything Goes, The Awesome 80s Prom, Chicago, Follies, How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Memphis, Naked Boys Singing, NEWSical the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, Silence! The Musical, Sister Act and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

As previously announced, the opening number will feature the original Broadway cast of Grease reuniting for a special 40-year anniversary tribute. Among the stars returning to the stage from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history are Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino) and Walter Bobbie (Roger).

Also joining the opening number reunion are original cast members Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene Florczyk ), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady) and Mews Small (Frenchy).

Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey, garnered seven Tony Award nominations and played 3,388 Broadway performances before closing April 13, 1980.

This year’s Gypsy of the Year will again be hosted by Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky, host of "Seth’s Big Fat Broadway" on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.

The all-singing, all-dancing Gypsy of the Year is the culmination of six weeks of intensive fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. It's also a sensational display of the most talented singers and dancers in the ensemble of shows, known as "gypsies." Awards are presented to the top fundraisers and for the best presentation during the two performances.

Last year, Gypsy of the Year raised $3,776,720, pushing the competition's 22-year total to $44,136,720.

A limited number of $40 and $20 tickets remain. They can be purchased online at broadwaycares.org or by calling 212.840.0770, ext. 268.