Walk-on appearances in Broadway's biggest hits, a backstage champagne toast with a two-time Tony Award winner and exclusive behind-the-scenes theatre keepsakes are among the priceless lots now available for pre-bidding as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 25TH Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
Named one of New York's "Best Once-a-Year Markets," the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction will be held from 10 AM - 7 PM on Sunday, September 25 in Times Square & on West 44th Street. This not-to-be-missed event for every Broadway theatergoer is free and open to the public.
Grand Auction items now open for pre-bidding on BroadwayCares.org include:
· Walk-on roles and backstage experiences at Jersey Boys, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Memphis, The Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, Sister Act and Wicked
· VIP visits to the sets of TV's Emmy-winning comedy Modern Family, hit drama NCIS: LA and the legendary Saturday Night Live
· One-of-kind show memorabilia signed by
Hugh Jackman,
Angela Lansbury,
Laura Linney,
Bebe Neuwirth,
Hal Prince,
Daniel Radcliffe,
Chita Rivera and more
· Musical phrases written by and signed by
Stephen Schwartz,
Stephen Sondheim,
Robert Lopez,
Billie Joe Armstrong,
Duncan Sheik and
Steven SaterThe always popular Celebrity Autograph Table will feature stars from Anything Goes, The Book of Mormon, Follies, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and more. One of the most popular sites at Broadway's "one-day sale," the Celebrity Autograph Table offers fans the opportunity to get autographs and pose for pictures with their favorite stars from Broadway and Off-Broadway in exchange for donations to Broadway Cares.
Specific stars slated to appear at the Celebrity Auction Table will be announced starting Monday, September 12 on broadwaycares.org, on Twitter and on Facebook.
For the first time ever, the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction will encompass all of 44th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, and will stretch across Broadway into Times Square, filling the wide pedestrian plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets.
Dozens of tables from Broadway's most popular shows will set up shop for what Time Out New York calls one of the in New York City. Fans can buy that lost cast recording, signed show posters and Playbills, rare costume sketches, props and special gifts theatre-lovers can't find anywhere else.
Among the shows scheduled to have tables so far are The Addams Family, Anything Goes, The Book of Mormon, Follies, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rock of Ages, Sister Act, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Wicked and
Cirque du Soleil's Zarkana.
Hourly silent auction lots will give way to the live Grand Auction, which starts at 4:30 PM and features a collection of unique items and experiences that will offer something for everyone. Pre-bidding online will end September 24, the day before the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
Specific items for sale at the Flea Market, other packages to be offered at the Grand Auction and stars to appear at the Celebrity Autograph Table will be announced on broadwaycares.org, on Twitter and on Facebook.
Last year, the 24th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction raised an astounding $476,917, bringing the event's 24-year total to $8,638,669.
The 25TH Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction is sponsored by United Airlines and The New York Times.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $195 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
BC/EFA awards annual grants to more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide and is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the
Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the
Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.
For more information, please visit the Broadway Cares online
broadwaycares.org.
