The 16th Annual Grand Auction and Flea Market, held in Shubert Alley Sept. 22, has raised $450,000, all for the benefit of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The event, part garage sale-part bidding war, ran from 10 AM to 7 PM with the Grand Auction held at 4:30 PM.
The walk-ons garnered the highest bids — Mamma Mia! raised the most at $13,000 with The Phantom of the Opera and Hairspray at $6,000. Opening night tickets and party passes to Dance of the Vampires went for $4,000 with Man of La Mancha a close second at $3,600.
Other items in this year's Grand Auction included walk-ons in Rent and 42nd Street and on TV's "Charlie Lawrence," "Everyone Loves Raymond" and "Friends," the suit Tom Selleck wore in A Thousand Clowns, the desk and chair Rosie O'Donnell used on the set of her TV show, autographed items from Barbra Streisand, John Kander and Fred Ebb and Cy Coleman and opening night ticket packages to Gypsy and Flower Drum Song.
A second highlight of the flea market is the Celebrity Table, where, for a one-time donation of $10 or an all-day access donation of $30, fans could get the autographs of and take pictures with their favorite stars. This year's talent at the table included Harvey Fierstein (Hairspray); Frankie and Johnny's Edie Falco and Stanley Tucci; Emily Skinner (Merrily We Roll Along in Washington, DC); Alan Campbell (Contact); Jonathan Dokuchitz (The Boys From Syracuse); Randy Graff (A Little Night Music in Washington, DC); Lauren Kennedy (London's South Pacific); Priscilla Lopez (A Chorus Line); Into the Woods' Christopher Sieber, Adam Wylie, John McMartin and Gregg Edelman; The Producers' Brad Oscar, Gary Beach and Sam Harris; Thoroughly Modern Millie's Harriet Harris and Marc Kudisch; Hunter Foster (Urinetown); Kathleen Chalfant (Wit); Oklahoma!'s Patrick Wilson; Proof's Len Cariou; and 42nd Street's Beth Leavel, Lucie Arnaz and Barbara Cook, among others.
This year, shoppers could take home: A Nathan Lane or Matthew Broderick Producers door (originally hung outside the St. James Theatre) — $100
A roll of Urinetown toliet paper — $5
Cabaret lamp shades from Studio 54, autographed by the cast — $40
Carols for a Cure CD — $5
Harvey Fierstein's autographed shoulder-length red gloves from the Seattle premiere of Hairspray — $150
Mamma Mia! chocolate CD — $5
Daisy Egan's Former Child Star Tantrum Cookie — $.50
42nd Street Dancing Feet frosted sugar cookies — 2 for $4
Naked Boys Singing male anatomy-shaped cookies (chocolate or vanilla) — $5
Mini-handcuff keychain from Chicago — $10
Record broken and signed by John Lithgow in Sweet Smell of Success – $25
Playing card used and signed by Oklahoma!'s Jud, Shuler Hensley — $1
Candle prop from Rent in box signed by the cast — $10
Autographed milk carton or beer bottle from Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune — $15
Autographed picture of Sam Harris' or Steven Weber's vocal cords — $100
In 2001, the 15th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction, held Sept. 30, raised over $358,556. $50,000 of the 2001 proceeds from the combination garage sale and bidding war went to the Twin Towers Fund.
For more information on the Flea Market and other BC/EFA events, please visit their website at www.bcefa.org or call (212) 840-0770.
— By Christine Ehren
