Broadway Flea Market Raises Record-Breaking Sum for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

By Andrew Gans
24 Sep 2012

Andrea McArdle signs Annie merchandise
Andrea McArdle signs Annie merchandise
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

The 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction, which was held in and around Shubert Alley Sept. 23, raised a record-breaking $681,892 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

This year's total was up $137,384 over 2011's total of $547,658. The previous record total for the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction was $574,000, which was set in 2000.

The 26 editions of the Broadway Flea Market have raised a whopping $9,870,369 for the fund-raising organization.

The live auction raised $298,300, the most ever, eclipsing the previous record of $294,250, which was set in 1996.

"I am always struck by the extraordinary enthusiasm from hundreds in the theater community, scores of volunteers and truly thousands of theatre lovers and fans whose great generosity of spirit make the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction such an incredible success," said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, in a statement. "It’s worth remembering that this fabulous and uniquely Broadway event ultimately is about one thing: helping people in crisis and need. The money raised Sunday will help ensure that more will have access to health care, medications, and support services. It reaches individuals and entire families in need of a nutritious meal and a safe place to call home. Whether you left with an autographed show poster or a one-of-a-kind auction experience, the resources you give so generously will lift up folks much less fortunate for a long time to come. And on their behalf especially, many thanks!"

This year, the 59 tables of the Broadway Flea Market collectively raised $286,087. The top 10 tables raising the most money were Wicked with $17,245; United Scenic Artists Local 829 with $17,112; Newsies with $15,000; Broadway Beat/Reel Time Video Production with $13,561; TDF with $12,806; The Phantom of the Opera with $9,945; The Araca Group with $9,814; Broadway Impact with $7,888; Creative Goods Merchandise with $7,851; and Max Merchandising with $7,725.

The Grand Auction included both live and silent auctions. The top-selling lot of the day was a VIP package to Barbra Streisand's upcoming concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, including a backstage meet-and-greet with the star. The package raised $40,000 from two bidders.

Tickets to the New York movie premiere of Les Misérables, starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Aaron Tveit, including passes to the opening-night party, raised $32,000.

Other top live auction items:

· An evening at the revival of Evita, including a backstage meeting with star Ricky Martin and a shirt he wore onstage and autographed, raised $11,000.

· A day at The Phantom of the Opera, including an appearance in the show's opening number, raised $10,800.

· A one-on-one office meeting with theatre producer/director Hal Prince, who's been at the helm of more than 50 Broadway shows and won 21 Tony Awards, raised $10,000 from two bidders.

· A VIP experience at Once, this year's Tony Award-winning Best Musical, raised $8,500.

· A private lunch with stage-and-screen legend Angela Lansbury raised $8,000.

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 $195 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

For more information, visit BroadwayCares.org.

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Robert Cuccioli, Stephanie J. Block and Jill Paice
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN