HIGHLIGHTS: Broadway Bares 25

Sunday night the 25th anniversary edition of Broadway Bares played to two sellout audiences at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom. This year's show was titled Top Bottoms Of Burlesque and as you'll see, it was spectacular from the moment the curtain arose to reveal the bouncing bottoms of buff chorus boys. All 25 years of Broadway Bares are available on DVD and they are taking pre-orders for this year's show.

Broadway Cares Salutes Cyndi Lauper, Donates $150K To True Colors Fund

Clip recap:

From Executive Director Tom Viola: I had the pleasure of dropping by the stage door of the Hirschfeld Theatre this week to join the cast of Kinky Boots in presenting Cyndi Lauper with a “big check” representing the $150,000 donated to True Colors Fund by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS from the more than $1.2 million in resources raised by the show since it opened in April 2013. Broadway Cares salutes Cyndi and True Colors Fund for everything they have done to advance equality for all and, in doing so, helping to end homelessness for gay and transgendered youth. “You change the world when you change your mind!” But our voices are stronger and the change embraces us all when we stand together.

CRUZ FALLOUT: Broadway Cares Cancels AIDS Fundraiser At Ian Reisner's Hotel

From the executive director of Broadway Cares:

It is with regret that we have decided to cancel this year’s edition of the Broadway Bares Solo Strips fundraiser, which was scheduled for May 10 at the NYC club 42West. We cannot in good conscience hold an event at a venue whose owners have alienated our community, as reflected in an April 23 New York Times story and an April 24 follow-up post. We do business with and accept fundraising support from a variety of people across a wide spectrum of political and religious affiliations. The rich diversity of our community makes what we do together so special. It is a rare instance where the actions of a donor negatively impacts us as an organization and potentially jeopardizes our relationship with others whose support is integral to our success. But when it does occur, in a way that’s blatantly against all we stand and work for, we can’t pretend it doesn’t come with consequences. Silence is not a neutral position. It is complicit. This is not about partisan politics or punishment. This is about doing what’s right to ultimately ensure that our commitment to the men, women and children we serve cannot be questioned.

Fallout has been equally swift across Manhattan's clubland. Links to the boycott of Reisner's properties have been posted by top New York City club promoters John Blair and Mark Nelson, both of whom have worked with Reisner's clubs in the past. Facebook pages for Reisner's various businesses have been deluged with negative comments and vows to stay away. Also interesting are boycott pledges by summer-long residents of Fire Island Pines, who would have few other options as Reisner recently paid $10M for 80% of the resort town's commercial district. At this writing the boycott's Facebook group has grown to over 4100 members in just one day.

NOTE: Broadway Bares 25 will take place as scheduled at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 24th. Get tickets here.

Broadway Bares Unveils 2015 Theme

The 25th anniversary theme of this year's Broadway Bares will be "Top Bottoms Of Burlesque." Lots of beefcake ahead, possibly not work-safe. Get tickets here.  At the end of the clip is Charlie Williams, who won the Ali Forney Center's Broadway Beauty Pageant in 2010.

Broadway Bares To Return To Fire Island

From Broadway Cares:

The modern day burlesque Broadway Bares heads back to the beach this May, kicking off the summer season with a sizzling edition of Broadway Bares Fire Island. Once again, the sexy men and women of Broadway Bares will return to Fire Island Pines, NY, for two performances, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. A more intimate version of the annual Broadway Bares performances in New York City, the Fire Island show on May 30, 2015, will feature an evening of new numbers directed by Michael Lee Scott. The show will be performed at 7 pm and 9 pm at Whyte Hall's Brandon Fradd Theater. Broadway Bares Fire Island will feature the Bares dancers performing on a runway jutting into the audience. The show will be followed by Bares' famous "rotation" where the performers freestyle dance for donations. All tickets to Broadway Bares Fire Island include free cocktails on the Albert Lepage Pavilion at Whyte Hall a half-hour before curtain

Video might not be work-friendly. Tickets at the link.

HIGHLIGHTS: Broadway Backwards 2015

Broadway Backwards Raises Record $466K For Broadway Cares & NYC LGBT Center

Via press release:

The 10th anniversary of Broadway Backwards capped off an exuberant, exhilarating and emotional evening of performances on Monday, March 9, 2015 with news that this year’s event raised a record $466,717 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. The sold-out show included 20 audience-pleasing numbers and multiple standing ovations for Tituss Burgess, Lena Hall, Florence Henderson, Norm Lewis, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lillias White and more Broadway favorites, as well as a special appearance by recent Kennedy Center Honoree Lily Tomlin. Julie Halston and Rob McClure served as the evening's jovial hosts. Broadway Backwards is the annual celebration where gays and lesbians see their stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, sung by their favorite Broadway performers. It is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and was presented again in the historic Al Hirschfeld Theatre, home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots. This year’s edition of Broadway Backwards featured a spirited 66-person cast and an onstage orchestra of 13 performing some of the most memorable numbers from previous editions of the benefit.

I was there with my buddy Mike and it was fantastic as always. As she did several years ago, 81 year-old Florence Henderson stole the show with a bawdy performance that included a macking session with an Alice stand-in. Peering into the upraised hindquarters of a muscular dancer, she quipped, "Is that the Holland or Lincoln tunnel? Helloooooo?" Mrs. Brady would not have approved. I'll post videos when they become available - in the meantime check out Playbill's photo gallery.

Broadway Backwards Reveals 2015 Cast

The tenth annual Broadway Backwards is next month and to celebrate the anniversary some of the show's most noted performers will be returning.

The roster of stars joining this year's Broadway Backwards includes Tony Award winners Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd, TV’s “Blue Bloods”) and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me, Kate), Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck (On the Town) and Broadway favorites Tituss Burgess (The Little Mermaid), Julie Halston (You Can’t Take It With You), Ann Harada (Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Avenue Q), Florence Henderson (Oklahoma!, TV’s “The Brady Bunch”), Jackie Hoffman (On the Town) and Aaron Lazar (The Last Ship). Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks. Performers subject to change. "I’m thrilled to welcome back these talented performers for this special 10th edition of Broadway Backwards," creator Robert Bartley said. "Thanks to them and the hundreds of talented performers who have participated in the nine editions of Broadway Backwards so far, we've been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars that help provide lifesaving medications, counseling and support for LGBT youth and those struggling with HIV/AIDS." This year's edition of Broadway Backwards will be performed at 8 PM at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC), home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots.

Broadway Backwards is my favorite Broadway event and I've only missed one since the show launched. Get tickets here. You might enjoy my slideshow of the 2009 show where Florence Henderson and Eve Plumb (Jan Brady) had an encounter in a women's prison.

Liza With A Tree

Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS has issued this year's fundraising holiday ornament.

The zeventh ornament in our Broadway Legends ornament series—yes, that’s seventh with a “z”—is the beloved Broadway superstar Liza Minnelli! Draped in a sexy red sequined outfit, our Liza conjures up her signature 1970s Halston look when she won her second Tony Award® for The Act. With the “City Lights” of New York as her back-drop and her hand placed confidently on her hip, our glittery Liza will be the star of your holiday season. The 6” tall glass ornament was designed exclusively for BC/EFA by artist Glen Hanson with the Christopher Radko Company.

Ms. Minnelli reacts: "I'm simply delighted and so honored to be immortalized with such a wonderfully crafted ornament. I'm especially proud to help support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, an organization that has been very dear to my heart for more than two decades." Still available are the Julie Andrews and Gwen Verdon ornaments from previous years.

TOMORROW: Broadway Flea Market

The 28th Annual Broadway Cares / Equality Fights AIDS flea market returns to Shubert Alley tomorrow.

Among the priceless lots available through this year's Grand Auction are private meet-and-greets with stage-and-screen stars Hugh Jackman and Idina Menzel, opening night VIP tickets to 17 of this season's new Broadway shows, walk-on roles at 13 Broadway shows, tribute packages to Elaine Stritch and Joan Rivers, and much more. From posing for photos with your favorite Broadway stars, to buying that lost cast recording, rare costume sketches or special gift you can't find anywhere else – the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction promises something for everyone.

Among the many Broadway stars on hand tomorrow will be Tony winners Boyd Gaines, Lena Hall, James Monroe Iglehart, Nikki M. James, Bebe Neuwirth, David Hyde Pierce, Billy Porter, and Alice Ripley. 

TRAILER: Broadway Bares 2014

Clip description:

The 24th annual edition of Broadway Bares will blow the roof off its new home at Hammerstein Ballroom with Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!, an amped up celebration honoring the best of rock and pop. Broadway Bares: Rock Hard! will crank up the volume and strip away all inhibitions as it pays tribute to iconic songs and music moments of the past 60 years. New York's sexiest and most talented dancers will shake, rattle and disrobe in an unforgettable burlesque spectacular. Broadway Bares: Rock Hard - Get tickets here. For the first time in 15 years, Broadway Bares will have a new home. This year's edition will take over NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center for two shows on Sunday, June 22.

Always amazing. Always a sell out.

Who's On Newsies?

Two of the kids from Newsies performed a Broadway take on the classic Abbott & Costello bit during the Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet shows this week. Every year Broadway casts raise money for Equity Fights AIDS during their their curtain calls for the six weeks leading up to the Easter Bonnet shows.

The generosity of theatre fans during six weeks of fundraising by 57 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies helped push the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition to another record high, raising $4,532,129 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway veterans Idina Menzel and Denzel Washington joined newcomers Bryan Cranston and Fran Drescher on April 21, 2014, to announce the final total following the finale of two stunning Easter Bonnet Competition shows filled with song, dance, comedy and 17 elaborate, creative, custom-made bonnets. Since the Easter Bonnet Competition began in 1987, the event has raised more than $58 million for Broadway Cares. Last year's event raised $4,250,542.

More great performances in the bottom clip.

Carole King Surprises Beautiful Cast At Curtain Call Plea For AIDS Donations

Beautiful, the Broadway musical that tells Carole King's life story through her songs, has been running for months to record crowds and rave reviews. King had famously declined to see the show, telling Playbill in December after walking out of a reading, "I can't watch my life played out before me."  She changed her mind on Thursday, choosing to attend the show during the week that Broadway casts issue curtain call pleas for donations to Equity Fights AIDS.

She finally showed up. After months of wondering whether Carole King would ever come to see the Broadway musical based on her life and comprising her music, the singer/songwriter surprised the cast and crew by attending Thursday evening’s performance of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” After the curtain call, as the cast was doing the annual appeal for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Ms. King ventured out on stage. “They had no idea,” she told the applauding audience. Jessie Mueller, who earned strong reviews for her portrayal of Ms. King when the show opened in January, wept, along with several other members of the cast. The charity effort became a song auction: Ms. King led the cast in “You’ve Got a Friend.” The appeal raised $30,000.

RELATED: Carole King's 1971 album Tapestry has sold over 25 million copies and is among the greatest selling albums of all time. It swept the major awards at the 1972 Grammys, taking Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year, and Best Pop Female Vocal. Tapestry spent 15 consecutive weeks atop the albums chart and 43 years later that remains the record for a female vocalist. The album appeared on the Billboard Top 200 for 302 weeks, another record for a female vocalist, and sixth on the all-time list for weeks on that chart. (#1 is Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon at 741 weeks.)

At Broadway Backwards 2014

On Monday night I attended the ninth annual Broadway Backwards at the Hirschfeld Theatre, where Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raised $424,000 with their show in which men sing Broadway standards written for women and women sing songs written for men. As always, there were a galaxy of gay musical theater stars both on the stage and in the audience, again making Broadway Backwards the gayest night on Broadway - and that's no easy feat. The event benefited Equity Fights AIDS and the New York City LGBT Community Center.

The highlight of the evening for many was the performance by 99-year old Patricia Morrison, who in 1948 originated the role of Kate in Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate. When the curtain rose to reveal Morrison in a wheelchair glamorously draped in purple velvet, I thought the eldergay sitting next to me was going to need his nitroglycerine. After Morrison delivered a quite touching performance of Brush Up Your Shakespeare (from Kiss Me, Kate, of course), the house went wild with a raucous and sustained standing ovation. Tony winner Julie White, the show's co-emcee, came out and attempted to move the show along, but only added to the mayhem when she ad-libbed, "Ladies and gentleman, our next performer is...is..well, he's FUCKED." Because how do you follow that?

I particularly enjoyed super-cute shortie Andrew Keenan-Bolger playing a Starbucks barista smitten with a tall handsome customer in The History Of Wrong Guys from Kinky Boots. I told my buddy Mike that I just want to glue that guy to my dashboard and drive to Fort Lauderdale. Another treat for me was seeing my favorite Broadway diva Beth Leavel (Tony winner from my favorite Broadway show The Drowsy Chaperone) belt out a hilariously lesbi-fied version of She Likes Basketball from Promises, Promises.

Speaking of things lesbi-fied, Debra Monk opened her number by letting the audience know that the lesbian version of a cock-block is known as a clam-slam. Duly noted. Then she told this joke: "Did you hear about the lesbian who went to the gynecologist? The doctor said, 'You have the cleanest vagina I've ever seen!' And she said, 'Well, I have a girl come in once a week.'" Tip your waitress! Monk and Cass Morgan (both of them the co-authors and original cast members of Pump Boys And Dinettes) then launched into a charming duet of I Still Get Jealous from High Button Shoes which included a soft shoe routine that had Monk jibing, "Who says lesbians can't dance?"

I insist you watch all four compilation clips below.

Opening Number: Broadway Cares' 25th Annual Gypsy Of The Year Show

Via Broadway Cares:

The 25th anniversary celebration of Gypsy of the Year, the culmination of six weeks of extraordinary fundraising by 56 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies, raised an amazing $4,343,234 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. On December 9 and 10, 2013, the show's energetic opening number featured Klea Blackhurst as Ethel Merman comparing gypsies of her day with 18 high-kicking, modern-day gypsies representing the cast of Newsies. The number was directed and choreographed by Devanand Janki and Robert Tatad with lyrics and script by Rudetsky. Arrangements and music direction by Ben Cohn.

Xmas Ornaments From Broadway Cares

Clip recap:

Who could get Broadway icons Julie Andrews, Gwen Verdon, Bernadette Peters and Angela Lansbury together for the holidays? Why, only Broadway Cares, of course, and the exclusive Broadway Legends ornament set (with some special assistance from theatre favorite Christine Pedi.) Whether your special someone loves one-of-a-kind Broadway memorabilia or collects every original cast recording, you'll find whatever is on your theatre lover's wish list at the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS online store.

Get them here.

Broadway Flea Market: September 22nd

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will hold the 27th annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction on September 22nd in Times Square.

Free and open to the public, the annual event takes place from 10 AM – 7 PM in the heart of the theatre district along West 44th Street (between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) and in Shubert Alley. One of the most popular stops at Broadway’s "one-day sale" is the Autograph Table & Photo Booth. Fans have the opportunity to get autographs and pose for pictures with their favorite stars from Broadway and Off-Broadway in exchange for donations to Broadway Cares.

The celebrities in this year's line-up have collectively won 27 Tony Awards and received 74 Tony nominations. Among those schedule to appear are Tony winners Len Cariou, Gabriel Ebert, Harriet Harris, Shuler Hensley, Cherry Jones, Aaron Lazar, Judith Light, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Bebe Neuwirth, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Faith Prince and Alice Ripley, as well as other Broadway favorites including Laura Benanti, Robert Cuccioli, Santino Fontana, Jeremy Jordan, Jan Maxwell, Lindsay Mendez, Julia Murney, Rory O’Malley, Laura Osnes, Christopher Sieber, Matthew James Thomas, Patrick Wilson and more.

There will be more than 50 tables of Broadway memorabilia available and the casts of many currently-running shows will be on hand for photos and autographs.

Broadway Bares 23 Raises Record $1.4M For Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

On Sunday night Father Tony and I attended the 23rd annual Broadway Bares, where a couple of hundred of Broadway's finest hoofers danced, stripped, pumped, flipped, and spun about on multi-man lighted wheels. Featured stars included Alan Cumming, Judith Light, Andy Cohen, and Adam Lambert, who sang the national anthem. Broadway Cares reports:

Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America, a randy road trip of modern-day burlesque featuring 220 of New York's sexiest dancers, raised an all-time record high for the fourth year in a row on Sunday, hitting $1,430,241 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  The 23rd edition of the consistently sold-out annual show celebrated America's fruited plains and mountains majesties with a host of spectacular stripteases. As more than 6,000 people packed Roseland Ballroom for two performances on June 23 they discovered and uncovered beach babes in California, a sexy Chicago speakeasy, sassy sister wives and a nearly naked groom in Utah, a sensual under sea adventure in Maine, rowdy cheerleaders riding stripped down Texas cowboys and more.  With this year's record total, the 23 editions of BROADWAY BARES have now raised more than $11.3 million for Broadway Cares.

Watch for a glimpse of the spinning wheels at the 2:00 mark.  After that, click over to Boy Culture for tons of up close and sweaty photos.

Broadway Bares: June 23rd In NYC

The 23rd annual installment of Broadway Bares takes place at Times Square's Roseland Ballroom on June 23rd.  

From sea to shining sea, this year's Broadway Bares will crisscross the country in a racy, raucous road trip, exploring the United States as the 23rd annual edition of the immensely popular modern-day burlesque show delivers Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America. More than 200 of New York's sexiest and most desirable dancers will discover – and uncover – amber waves and mountain majesties that only Broadway Bares could find. This trip across the fruited plains of America will most certainly be the stuff patriot dreams are made of.

The show benefits Broadway Cares/Equality Fights AIDS and has raised almost $10M to date.  Get tickets here. I recommend the naughtier midnight performance.

TEASER: Broadway Bares 2013

Might not be work-friendly. Recap from Broadway Cares:

Broadway Bares: Solo Strips was a sexy tease for Broadway Bares, one of BC/EFA's annual signature events. This year's racy, road trip-themed edition, Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America, will feature 200 of New York's most desirable dancers discovering -- and uncovering -- amber waves and mountain majesties that only Broadway Bares could find. Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America will be held Sunday, June 23 with two performances only at 9:30 pm & midnight at Roseland Ballroom in New York City.

I recommend the raunchier midnight show. Get tickets here.