Minnelli, Etc. Donate Items to Bid 2 Beat AIDS Auction

An array of Broadway stars and shows are taking part in the auction Bid 2 Beat AIDS.

The auction features memorabilia from Carol Channing, Patti LuPone, Charles Busch, Whoopi Goldberg, Avenue Q, Rent, Wicked, Dreamgirls, Tarzan, Grey Gardens, Joan Rivers, John Lloyd Young, John Waters, Madonna, Cynthia Nixon, Taye Diggs, Liza Minnelli, Hugh Jackman, Cyndi Lauper, Glenn Close and more.

Bidding continues through December 18th on eBay for Bid 2 Beat AIDS, an annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, theatre, sports, politics and television. Proceeds benefit LIFEbeat, the Music Industry Fights AIDS. Sponsors include MTV, Borders Books & Music, Yahoo! Music and Sirius Satellite Radio.

The auction features tons of memorabilia from beloved stars of Broadway: Carol Channing has donated an autographed ventriloquilists dummy of herself. There are signed Playbills from Tarzan's Josh Strickland, John Lithgow, Parker Posey, Charles Busch, Daphne Rubin-Vega and more. Whoopi Goldberg signed a promo slinky from her one woman show. Liza Minnelli has donated numerous rare posters. Deborah Gibson signed a shapshot of herself with Neil Patrick Harris. There are signed CDs from Cyndi Lauper, [title of show], Grey Gardens, Madonna, Debbie Gravitte, Avenue Q, Ricky Martin, Usher and more. There are also items from Hugh Jackman, Jason Alexander, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Amy Sedaris, Brooke Sheilds, Rue McLannahan, Lea Delaria, Jai Rodriguez, Joan Rivers, Phil Collins and John Cameron Mitchell. Movie buffs can bid on signed items from Dreamgirls, Hedwig..., and Rent.

The centerpiece of the auction is one-of-a-kind celebrity autographed "Lend-A-Hand to LIFEbeat" cards. Stars were asked to trace their hands on special paper, add their own personal artistic touch and a signature. Parker Posey, Cynthia Nixon, Glenn Close, John Lloyd Young, Daphne Rubin Vega, Nathan Lane, Eartha Kitt, Deborah Gibson, Bebe Neuwirth, Martin Short, Carol Kane, John Waters, and over 100 others have  participated in this unique project.

LIFEbeat has amassed nearly 750 items for the 2006 auction: CDs signed by artists including Mariah Carey, Fergie, Alanis Morisette, and Olivia Newton-John; signed books by Madonna, Jackie and Joan Collins, and Queer Eye For The Straight Guy; DVDs autographed by Jack Black, Bo Derek, and Mo'Nique; posters signed by Nick Lachey, Il Divo, Green Day and Britney Spears; gold records from Paula Abdul, Michael Jackson, and Annie Lenox; as well as photos, set lists, instruments, scripts, magazines, press kits and other autographed memorabilia. New items are arriving daily. 

Some of the more unusual items include a kids bicycle signed by Will Ferrell that he rode on MTV, rollerskates signed by Jessica Simpson, a leather and chain hat worn by Prince on the cover of his 1992 release "My Name is Prince", sneakers signed by John McEnroe and Nelly, a meet-and-greet with Joan Rivers, skis signed by Olympic skier Bode Miller, autographed baseball hats from Bruce Willis (Dreamworks' Over The Hedge) and Cal Ripken Jr, and MTV Movie Awards backstage access passes signed by Justin Timberlake, Jerry O'Connell, Keanu Reeves, Jake Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell and others.

Every item comes with a certificate of authenticity, and was obtained directly from the performers, their agents, or other professionals in the industry.

For more information, including a complete list of participating artists and images of many of the items, visit www.Bid2BeatAIDS.com.