RIALTO CHATTER: Hard Times? Sell Your Tony!

When times are tough, the tough sell their Tony Awards. That is Jane Gaynor's plan, anyway. Gaynor, a producer of the 1978 original Broadway production of "Ain't Misbehavin'", is selling the Tony Award, and a slew of other theatrical artifacts, to the highest bidder in an effort to raise funds for those close to her.

Jane Gaynor has established a website, yourambtonyaward.blogspot.com, where interested parties can find out more information about the sale. Gaynor writes, "To Broadway Musical and Ain't Misbehavin' Fans and Collectors: Thank you so much for your interest in this Tony Award and other "Ain't Misbehavin'" memorabilia. You may be wondering why I am parting with such extraordinary mementos of times I hold very dear. You see, I have close friends my age in this country, in Spain, in Eastern Europe, and in Africa, who are experiencing some temporary but severe financial difficulties in the current economic climate. I decided to raise a substantial fund to help save their homes, keep students in college, save small businesses, provide seed money for self-employed start-ups, and to cover gaps in health insurance. I hope with all my heart that the funds raised by selling this magnificent collection will help provide a balm that heals them. "Possessions posses you, but love can set you free.""

As part of the package, which has a reserve price of $20,000, Gaynor includes the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Critics Circle Awards she received from "Ain't Misbehavin'", as well as original playbills, posters and window cards, and other miscellaneous items - such as the "blue" typesetter's sheet used to print the original review by the New York Times critic on May 10, 1978.

Terms of the auction include:

- The minimum bid for this Tony Award package is $20,000. (This is the same amount successfully bid by a collector for the Tony Award for Best Costume Design for "Grind" in 1985 won by the late Florence Klotz, on ebay in February of 2009.)

- You may bid in any increments you like beginning with $20,000.

- However, a bid of $32,000 will win the bidding preemptively.

- The desired end to this "auction" is no later than Sunday, June 7, so that there is a winner to the "Ain't Misbehavin'" Best Musical Tony prior to watching the 2009 Tony Awards on CBS that evening.

- The Tony winner shall remain private, and can publicize their Tony win as they wish.

- Sales of all Tony Awards made prior to The Tony Award Medallion Receipt Agreement in 1985 are legal and valid.

To view pictures and detailed information about the sale, visit Gaynor's website.