NewsBidders "Let It Go" at 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market, Bringing in Record-Breaking SumThe 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction, which was held Sept. 21 in and around Shubert Alley, brought in an all-time high of $713,986, for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
By
Andrew Gans
September 22, 2014
Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed at the flea market
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN
The 28 editions of the Broadway Flea Market have raised a grand total of $11 million. This year's fundraiser shattered the previous record of $681,892, set in 2012. The tables this year raised $369,616; the live auction raised $263,850.
“Expanding back into the now-renovated Times Square pedestrian plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets brought a wonderful energy and new fans to what has long been one of the most exciting days for anyone who loves Broadway,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, in a statement. “What started as just a few tables placed outside the Shubert Theatre stage door between shows by the cast of A Chorus Line in 1987 has grown into a full day of celebration for the entire theatre community – not only those who fill these beautiful theatres but also those who create the magic onstage and behind the scenes eight times a week. The unending commitment of all to make a difference for hundreds of thousands of people in our neighborhood and across the country who are living with HIV/AIDS and other serious health issues is deeply appreciated and can never be taken for granted.”
The Top 10 tables raising the most money were Wicked with $21,869; Newsies with $20,173; The Phantom of the Opera with $19,210; TDF’s “Pik-a-Tik” with $14,392; United Scenic Artists Local 829 with $13,353; Creative Goods Merchandise with $13,222; ATPAM with $11,942; Reel Time Video Production with $11,115; If/Then with $10,061; Les Misérables with $8,083.
The Grand Auction included the live auction, which concluded the day, and a series of silent auctions, which were held every 30 minutes throughout the day.
The top-selling lot of the live auction was a handwritten musical phrase of “Let It Go,” from the hit Disney animated movie "Frozen." The phrase was written and signed by songwriters Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Idina Menzel, who sang the Oscar-winning song and voiced the lead character. The phrase sold for $9,000. An opportunity to meet Menzel backstage during the run of If/Then also was among the top live auction lots, bringing in $8,000. Walk-on appearances were a Grand Auction favorite with once-in-a-lifetime experiences onstage at Cinderella, Chicago, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Motown the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera and Rock of Ages collectively bringing in $86,400 with walk-ons in Wicked, Les Misérables and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical leading the charge with bids of $8,000, $7,000 and $6,750, respectively.
Other top live auction items:
Opening-night tickets and VIP party passes to The River, opening in November and starring Hugh Jackman, went for $6,200, followed by On The Town for $3,000 and It’s Only a Play for $2,200. In all, 17 opening-night ticket and party packages raised $39,750.
A separate package to see The River and meet Jackman backstage afterward went for a top bid of $6,000.
The opportunity to be a judge at BC/EFA's Gypsy of the Year and Easter Bonnet Competition went to two bidders for $7,000 each.
Special auction lots honoring three beloved entertainment legends – Joan Rivers, Elaine Stritch and Robin Williams – raised $5,050.
Barbra Streisand's new CD "Partners" signed by Streisand, sold for $1,300, while the full score of the duet “It Had to Be You,” sung by Streisand and Michael Bublé and signed by both, sold for $3,000.
This year’s live auction was hosted by Broadway and TV veteran Bryan Batt with Lorna Kelly, who made her 25th appearance at the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
Jen Cody and Michael Goddard hosted the silent auctions, which featured 157 items and raised $80,520. The top silent auction item, which sold for $5,000, was a musical arrangement of “Can't Take My Eyes Off of You” from Jersey Boys signed by Bob Gaudio and late Bob Crewe.
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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 $250 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
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Theatre's Biggest Stars Turn Out For the 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market
Theatre's Biggest Stars Turn Out For the 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market
The 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction, which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, was held Sept. 21 in Shubert Alley and along W. 44th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
Based on the novel and film by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the new musical will reunite Guettel with Tony-winning Light in the Piazza director Bartlett Sher.
