The yearly event features a host of teddy bears dressed as famous Broadway characters, many autographed by the original stars who wore the original (human-sized) outfits.
Since this fundraiser began in 1998, the well-dressed bears have raised more than $1,816,900 for medical clinics, healthy meal programs and hundreds of other much-needed social service organizations supported by Broadway Cares.
Broadway favorite Bryan Batt and auctioneer Lorna Kelly are once again on hand to host and lead the evening's festivities.
This year’s Collection of bears includes "red carpet" bears from such shows as:
A Chorus Line, signed by Priscilla Lopez
A Little Night Music, signed by Bernadette Peters and Stephen Sondheim
The Addams Family, signed by Kevin Chamberlin
Anything Goes, signed by Sutton Foster
Beauty and the Beast, signed by Alan Menken
Bette Midler’s Clams on the Half Shell Revue, signed by Bette Midler
Billy Elliot: The Musical, signed by Sir Elton John and Gregory Jbara
Bonnie & Clyde, signed by Laura Osnes
The Book of Mormon, signed by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells
Cats, signed by Betty Buckley
Driving Miss Daisy, signed by Vanessa Redgrave
The Drowsy Chaperone, signed by Danny Burstein
Exit the King, signed by Susan Sarandon
Fiddler on the Roof, signed by Austin Pendleton
Follies, signed by Danny Burstein, Jan Maxwell, Bernadette Peters,
Ron Raines and Stephen Sondheim
George M!, signed by Joel Grey
The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, signed by Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis
Grease, signed by Adrienne Barbeau
Gypsy, signed by Faith Dane and Stephen Sondheim
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, signed by Darren Criss, Nick Jonas and Daniel Radcliffe
Hugh Jackman, Back On Broadway, signed by Hugh Jackman
Jersey Boys, signed by Frankie Vallie
Jerusalem, signed by Mark Rylance
Kiss of the Spider Woman, signed by Chita Rivera and John Kander
The Lion King, signed by Julie Taymor
The Little Mermaid, signed by Norm Lewis
Lombardi, signed by Dan Lauria and Judith Light
Lorelei, signed by Carol Channing
Mamma Mia!, signed by Judy McLane
Newsies, signed by Alan Menken
Nine, signed by Tommy Tune
The Pee-Wee Herman Show, signed by Lynne Marie Stewart
The Phantom of the Opera, signed by Judy Kaye
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, signed by Nick Adams, Bette Midler,
Tony Sheldon and Will Swenson
The Producers, signed by Mel Brooks
Promises, Promises, signed by Ellen DeGeneres
Shrek The Musical, signed by Sutton Foster
Sister Act, signed by Patina Miller and Alan Menken
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark signed by Patrick Page
Sunset Boulevard, signed by Elaine Paige
Wicked, signed by Gregory Maguire and Stephen Schwartz VIP tickets are $150 each and include an exclusive private preview of the Broadway Bears, a cocktail, hors d’oeuvres and dessert reception from 6 PM-8 PM and reserved priority seating for the auction. General admission tickets are $35 each and include a cocktail and dessert reception and display of the Broadway Bears from 7-8 PM as well as unreserved seating for the auction.
Reservations may be made by calling Broadway Cares at (212) 840-0770, ext. 229.
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Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grants making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes and other critical illnesses across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $195 million dollars for critically needed services for people with AIDS and other serious illnesses.
