S: Is for show biz bears

There is so much going on, that I forgot to write about one of my favorite charity events. More on Fashion Week tomorrow but for now it's those wonderful bears...Broadway Bears. On Sunday, February 15, those who love Broadway and teddy bears came together for the BROADWAY BEARS XII auction, raising $152,116. Hosted by Broadway star as well as TV's Mad Men, Bryan Batt with Sotheby's auctioneer Lorna Kelly, auctioned off forty specially made BROADWAY BEARS – each dressed in original, handmade costumes representing theater’s most legendary characters. Top ten winning bids for bears were:
$16,000 – Sir Robin from Spamalot, designed by JoAnna Cayot and signed by Clay Aiken.
$10,000 – Alan Strang with Nugget from Equus, designed by Nicolas Putvinski and signed by Daniel Radcliffe, RIchard Griffiths and Lorenzo Pisoni.
$7,000 – Glinda from Wicked, designed by John Henson and signed by Kristin Chenoweth and Kendra Kassebaum.
$5,500 – Growltiger from Cats, designed by Therese Stadelmeier-Tresco and signed by Betty Buckley and Stephen Hanan
$4,000 – Billy Elliot(s) from Billy Elliot,designed by Jessica Scoblick and signed by David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik.
$4,000 – Tommy Walker from The Who's Tommy, designed by Andy Wallach and signed by Michael Cerveris.
$3,800 – Ashley from Starlight Express, designed by Andy Wallach and signed by Andrea McArdle.
$3,700 – Betty Haynes from Irving Berlin's White Christmas, designed by the show's original designer Carrie Robbins and signed by Kerry O'Malley, Stephen Bogardus, Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson.
$3,600 – Shrek from Shrek The Musical, designed by Tricorn Inc. & Lynne Mackey Studios and signed by Brian d’Arcy James.
$3,400 – Local 1/I.A.T.S.E. Brother Bear designed by Carol A. Ingram.
Several Broadway stars dropped by to lend their support to the event including Bernadette Peters (Gypsy), Christopher Sieber (Shrek The Musical), Michael Cerveris (Road Show & Sweeney Todd), Kerry O’Malley(White Christmas), David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish (Billy Elliot), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde), Loretta Ables Sayre (South Pacific), Michael Berresse (A Chorus Line), Blake Daniels (Spring Awakening), Kerry Butler (Xanadu), Jennifer Smith (The Drowsy Chaperone), West Side Story original cast members Jaime Sanchez and George Marcy, Christine Pedi (Forbidden Broadway), Kris Koop (The Phantom of the Opera), Ann Harada (Avenue Q).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the nation’s leading AIDS fundraising 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 $150 million dollars for critically needed services for people with AIDS and other serious illnesses.

Don't forget to enter the Barbie Giveaway. You have until April 1st to send me your Barbie design and a brief letter as to why you want to win. E-mail me at suzanna@xplorefacts.com. The contest is open to ages 6-20. Prize will be awarded in time for Easter.