Postponed Broadway Bears IX Now Held on May 21

A new date has been set for Broadway Bears IX, which will now put its fuzzy stars on parade on May 21st at B. B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42nd Street).

The ninth fundraiser of the BC/EFA series was originally to have been presented on February 12th, but was postponed due to the recent New York blizzard.

Hosted by Bryan Batt (La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast), the evening will continue in the Broadway Bears tradition of auctioning off stuffed bears dressed as Broadway characters, with all proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The event will begin with a private reception at 6 PM, general admission and display of the bears will follow at 7 PM. At 8 PM, the auction, led by Lorna Kelly, will kick off. In addition to bids at the actual auction, pre-bids, phone bids and internet bids will be allowed.

The eighth Broadway Bears auction last year raised $116,817 for BC/EFA, with the Glinda bear raising the highest bid (the pink Wicked bear went for $6,000). This year's cast of forty bears features autographed bears representing a multitude characters and actors from plays and musicals. They include: Marcus Brutus from the revival of Julius Caesar, signed by Denzel Washington, Billy Crystal from 700 Sundays signed by Crystal, John Tartaglia with Rod from Avenue Q, signed by Tartaglia, Sister Aloysius from Doubt signed by Cherry Jones, Frankie Valli from Jersey Boys signed by John Lloyd Young and Valli, Brenda from Movin' Out signed by Billy Joel and Elizabeth Parkinson, Oscar Madison from The Odd Couple signed by Nathan Lane and Neil Simon, King Arthur from Spamalot signed by Tim Curry and Amneris from Aida signed by Elton John and Sherie Rene Scott.

BC/EFA is the nation's leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American Theatre 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 its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $100 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or HIV-related illnesses.

Tickets for a private reception beginning at 6PM are $150 and include a VIP advance preview of all the bears to be auctioned, reserved priority seating, and open bar. General admission tickets (unreserved seating) are $35, and also include open bar. Doors open at 7PM for all general admission ticket holders, and the auction begins at 8PM.

Reservations may be made by calling BC/EFA at (212) 840-0770, extension 245. Visit www.BroadwayCares.org for more information.