It must have been those bright yellow smiley-face Joe Boxers on host Bruce Vilanch.

With the aid of the writer-comedian, plus Cabaret's Alan Cumming and Joely Fisher and performances from Lilias White, Linda Eder and 160 nearly-naked dancers, Broadway Bares raised $282,989 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell (The Full Monty, "In & Out"), Broadway Bares, held June 11, features the best and brightest of the Broadway dance scene -- with little or nothing on. The midnight show (versus the 9:30) is known for being the most outrageous, raunchy evening on the BC/EFA calendar of events.

Tickets (all standing room) ranged from $150 VIP tickets with open bar reception, and VIP standing room to $35 general admission (over age 21 only). Roseland Ballroom is located at Broadway and 52nd Street next door to the Virginia Theatre.

* Last year's event, titled Calendar Girl and featuring holiday and month oriented strips, raised $240,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Hosts for the evening were Tom Wopat, Lea DeLaria and Cumming.

Broadway Cares/Equity Eights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based AIDS fundraising and grantmaking organization. Since October 1987, BC/EFA has raised and distributed over $38 million to support people with HIV and AIDS.

-- By Christine Ehren