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. *

Tess Harding, from Woman of the Year

Original Costume Designer: Theoni V. Aldredge
Bear Costume Designer: Beth Kidd with the assistance of Steven Bryant (wig)
Signed by Lauren Bacall

"One of the girls who's one of the boys??" Not in this stunning gown re-created for Lauren "Bearcall" from photos and illustrations of the original. There are 20,000 tiny gold-glass seed beads around the cowl-neck inset of the elegant, long-sleeved white crepe sheath, and 65,000 (somewhat larger) gold bugle beads covering the dress proper. 85,000 hand-sewn beads (but hey, "who's counting?!") on one tiny garment! Beneath the dress, her feet are slippered in hand-sculpted gold shoes. And the coup de grace? The autograph of Miss Bacall, who took home a second Tony Award for her gutsy and inimitable portrayal of Tess Harding.