Broadway Cares/Equity Fights will hold their annual "Broadway Bears" charity event at 7 PM Feb. 15 at the Hudson Theatre (145 W. 44th St. In Manhattan). As usual, the auction will feature dozens of stuffed bears, each decked out in the fashion of a particular theatre production or personality, and signed by the artist the bear resembles. In the weeks leading up to the auction, Playbill On-Line will feature a different Broadway Bear each day. For information on the auction, call (212) 840 0770, ext. 268. *

Loveland Showgirl, from Follies

Original Costume Designers: Florence Klotz (Tony Award Winner)
Bear Costume Designer: Terry Sipress
Signed by Hal Prince and Stephen Sondheim

While tremendous controversy surrounded Follies when it first appeared on Broadway -- for its original but unorthodox approach to story-telling -- there was no disagreement about the costumes. They were exquisite. This meticulously crafted recreation has been made with literally hundreds of thousands of jet and white-satin bugle beads. The fringe is hand-made of jet seed and bugle beads that have been mounted on satin ribbon and applied by hand to the dress. The elaborate headpiece (with earrings attached) has also been made with jet and white-satin bugle beads and is capped with ostrich plumes and black and white marabou and coq feathers. The shoes she wears are handmade. "Hats off, here she comes -- this beautiful bear!