New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's tap shoes will be put up for auction at Macy's Herald Square on Aug. 23. No, the mayor does not actually tap dance (to our knowledge). And no, the shoes are not actually his. But he did autograph them.
The mayor's footwear will be just one among dozens of pairs of tap shoes being sold in "Tap-O-Mania," a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Other shoes on the block are more bona fide Broadway, such as those signed by Angela Lansbury (Sweeney Todd), Savion Glover (Noise/Funk), Bette Midler, Debbie Allen, Gregory Hines (Jelly's Last Jam), Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking of Chicago, and cast members from Beauty and the Beast.
Like Giuliani's, however, some of the shoes are signed by people who didn't earn their fame through dancing, like real estate mogul Donald Trump, and talk show hosts Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford.
A View From the Bridge star and occasional hoofer Tony Danza is not only donating his signature, but may cut a rug or two at the auction. BC/EFA officials said Macy's--which is sponsoring the Aug. 23 event with McCall's -- is talking with Danza, but nothing is definite.
The auction is silent and takes place 12:30-4:30 PM on Macy's main floor. An auction preview will be held Aug. 22. All proceeds go to BC/EFA. -- By Robert Simonson