News27th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction Raises Over $600,000 for BC/EFAThe 27th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction, which was held Sept. 22 in and around Shubert Alley, raised $631,222 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
By
Andrew Gans
September 23, 2013
Krysta Rodriguez and Zachary Levi
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
The 27 editions of the Broadway Flea Market have raised a grand total of more than $10.3 million for the fundraising organization.
"With the beautiful weather, a wonderfully vibrant energy and great sense of community filled Shubert Alley and surged down West 44th Street from early morning to dusk," said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, in a statement. "That enthusiasm and the great generosity of spirit of the theatre community itself translated into an extraordinary day for Broadway Cares and, in turn, a better one for hundreds of thousands in our own neighborhood and across the country living with HIV/AIDS and other serious health issues who receive support because of the ever-growing embrace of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS."
This year, the 56 tables raised a total of $311,691, the most in the event's history. The top 10 fundraising tables were Wicked with $19,244; United Scenic Artists Local 829 with $18,206; The Phantom of the Opera with $15,887; Newsies with $13,353; TDF with $13,099; Kinky Boots with 12,326; Creative Goods Merchandise with $9,739; Reel Time Video Production with $9,508; Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers (ATPAM) with $9,056; and Matilda The Musical with $8,102.
The Grand Auction included both live and silent auctions.
The live auction raised $217,950, one of the highest totals ever. The top-selling lot of the live auction was an opportunity to join the cast of this year's Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots in a walk-on that sold for $8,250. Unique offerings from two of Broadway's long-running hits – The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked – helped push this year's final auction total higher. The Phantom mask worn by Hugh Panaro in the show's 25th anniversary Broadway performance earlier this year fetched $7,500. Tickets to next month's 10th anniversary performance of Wicked, including passes to an exclusive, star-studded after-party, raised $7,000. The live auction was hosted by Broadway and TV veteran Bryan Batt with BC/EFA auctioneer Lorna Kelly and Broadway actress and auctioneer Tasha Lawrence.
A series of half-hour silent auctions, hosted by Jen Cody and Michael Goddard, featured 143 items and raised $84,831. The top silent auction item, which sold for $9,000, was Elphaba's broom from Wicked, used onstage and signed by Idina Menzel, the original Elphaba. An autographed script for the pilot episode of NBC's "Smash," signed by stars Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee, Debra Messing, Christian Borle and Anjelica Huston, garnered $3,800.
The popular Celebrity Autograph Table and Photo Booth raised $21,855 from hundreds of fans who waited patiently to meet their favorite Broadway and television stars.
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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 $225 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
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The Star-Studded 27th Annual Broadway Flea Market
The Star-Studded 27th Annual Broadway Flea Market
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presented the 27th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction Sept. 22 from 10 AM-7 PM along West 44th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) and in Shubert Alley. Read the Playbill.com story.
