Fans of live theater flocked to Manhattan on September 25th as the Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction raised $547,658 for Broadway Cares. At the annual event, attendees were given the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind merchandise and meet some of their favorite stars.
Fifty-six tables running up and down West 43rd and 44th Streets were filled with merchandise from dozens of on- and off-Broadway shows and other theatrical organizations. Many items were created especially for the event. “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” sold bracelets from the Kevlar cables used in the show, while “Billy Elliot” created homemade holiday ornaments.
“It’s a significant commitment to decide to have a table at the Broadway Flea Market,” says Kim Russell, the Broadway Cares producer responsible for booking and arrangements for the flea market. “Whether it’s a show, union, guild, merchandise company or other theatre-related group, they find their own volunteers, create and/or collect merchandise to sell, design their table layout and look and help spread the word that they’ll be there. We guide, advise and provide them tables and chairs. The rest is up to them and they do a magnificent job.”
Items up for auction included a day at “Phantom of the Opera,” which two people won bidding $10,500 apiece, raising a total of $21,000; a visit to the sitcom “Modern Family,” which raised $10,000; and a VIP visit to the set of Saturday Night Live, which was auctioned off for $7,500.
The event included stars from the “The Book of Mormon,” “Anything Goes,” “Sister Act,” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” as well as actors Bryan Batt, Charles Busch, Bobby Cannavale, Jason Danieley, Joyce DeWitt, Michael Emerson, Ana Gasteyer, Montego Glover, Jonathan Groff, Megan Hilty, Beth Leavel, Marin Mazzie, Laura Osnes, Patrick Page, Adam Pascal, Carrie Preston, Anthony Rapp, and Alice Ripley, among others.
The flea market, which began in 1987, has raised more than nine million dollars since its inception.