Photo Flash: Broadway Bears 2012 Preview!

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of The Broadway Bears, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by well-known designers.

Check out pictures of the bears below!

These teddy bears first appeared in 1998 and have since raised more than $1,850,000 for medical clinics, healthy meal programs and hundreds of other social service organizations supported by Broadway Cares.

This year's bears represent characters from such popular shows as Evita, Follies, Grey Gardens, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Li'l Abner, Porgy and Bess, Sister Act, Sunset Boulevard and War Horse.

The closing night cast of characters will represent Carol Channing, Joel Grey, Patti LuPone, Idina Menzel, Vanessa Redgrave, Chita Rivera and many more. Each bear is autographed by some of the biggest stars on Broadway.

The North American Bear Co., Inc. once again donated dozens of bear skins that have been stuffed, sculpted, painted, dressed, stitched and posed. Each costume has been researched by some of the theatre community's costume designers as well as top designers from the doll and teddy bear world.

Once again, Broadway favorite Bryan Batt and auctioneer Lorna Kelly will be on hand to host and lead the evening's festivities. These longtime friends of Broadway Cares will welcome a slew of celebrity presenters, introducing bears based on shows in which they performed.

The finale auction takes place Sunday, March 18 at 8 pm at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill at 237 West 42nd Street, NYC. Pre-bidding takes place now through March 17 at http://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/item/Browse.action?auctionId=151664867.