Daniel Radcliffe: Wizard, Music Man, Auctioneer

Fresh from the opening night success of How To Succeed Without Really Trying, Daniel Radcliffe adds auctioneer to his resume. As it is now time to raise money for BCEFA's Easter Bonnet, Mr. Radcliffe offers a signed copy of "How To Succeed" book for auction to the audience. Read more about it here. (photo from playbill.com)

Broadway says "It Gets Better"

Broadway.com, Broadway Impact, BCEFA and a slew of Broadway actors band together for this PSA for the Trevor Project speaking to youth and young adults in crisis. This stems from the recent reports of bullying and suicides involving gay teens. Let's stop the bullying! If you know a friend or loved one in crisis, please contact: TheTrevorProject.org or ReachOut.com

The video above was created by Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell and Matt Vogel and features the following artists:

George Akram, Jack Anderson, Bryan Batt, Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Chris Boneau, Kevin Broomell, Danny Burstein, Charles Busch, Kevin Chamberlain,Tony Chiroldes, John Ellison Conlee, Wilson Cruz, Josh Cruz, Robin De Jesus, Colman Domingo, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Joanna Gleason, Judy Gold, Robyn Goodman, Michael Graziano, Ann Harada, Richard Jay-Alexander, Cherry Jones, Moisés Kaufman, Zoe Kazan, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Tom Kirdahy, Nathan Lane, Andrew Lippa, Jose Llana, Anna Louizos, Melissa Rae Mahon, Tyler Maynard, Audra McDonald, Michael McElroy, Terrence McNally, Ray Mercer , Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jerry Mitchell,
Julia Murney, Denis O'Hare, Rory O'Malley, Karen Olivo, Sarah Paulson, Corrie Pond, Billy Porter, Anika Noni Rose, Seth Rudetsky, Thomas Sadoski, Luis Salgado, Chris Sarandon, Tom Schumacher,
Marc Shaiman, Christopher Sieber, J. Robert Spencer, Leslie Stifelman, Jason Tam, John Tartaglia, Lucy Thurber, Alexandria Wailes, Scott Wittman, Garrett Zuercher

Highlights from Broadway Backwards 5

We posted about Broadway Backwards here so now have a look at some highlights from the show which took place on Feb. 22 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre of Lincoln Center.

See snippets of performances from Florence Henderson, Julia Murney, Aaron Lazar, Lea Salonga, Mario Cantone and Titus Burgess courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com. Please click on the photo to see it.

To read about Seth Rudetsky's first hand experience of that night, please click here.

(photo from BroadwayWorld.com)

Broadway Backwards 5.0

Broadway Backwards, a benefit for BC/EFA and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community happens this Feb. 22, 2010 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in Lincoln Center. It's a benefit show where female Broadway actors sing male Broadway songs and vice versa.

It's their fifth year this year and the performers are Lea Salonga, Titus Burgess, Michele Lee, Aaron Lazar, Mario Cantone, Becki Newton, Julia Murney, Tonya Pinkins, Len Cariou, Gary Beach, Ann Harada, Tony Goldwin and Nick Adams just to name a few. The benefit will be hosted by Florence Henderson.

Check out the video above for a teaser and for tickets please click here.

(video from BroadwayBeat)

Shirts Off Their Backs

A Steady Rain dynamic duo Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig have raised $ 1 Million dollars for BC/EFA!

Around this time, most shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway usually do a 6 week fundraising campaign for BC/EFA. Most shows will have an announcement at the curtain call telling the audience that cast members will be in the lobby with buckets for whatever an audience member would be willing to donate. Some shows sell signed playbills or posters and sometimes will do an auction. It's really a very fun time for both the cast and audience.

This time, the actors from A Steady Rain did something very unique--they auctioned their wife beaters that they wore during the show. Both would practically take their shirts off on stage during the auction. There were even accounts that Hugh Jackman's wife beater even had tasseled pasties when he took his shirt off! He even worked the crowd by gyrating and making them twirl to the amusement of his co-star Daniel Craig. I commend these two for being so generous and what great sport they have been to raise money for a good cause! To read more about it, please click here.

(photo from People.com)

Broadway Barks Benefit

See Broadway Barks founder and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Trustee Bernadette Peters in a one night benefit "A Special Concert for Broadway Barks because Broadway Cares" on 09 November at the Minskoff Theatre. Visit Broadway Cares to buy tickets, or call (212)840-0770 x 268.

Be More Than Just Steps.....Dance For Life

Amazing tapper and So You Think You Can Dance auditioner Ryan Kasprzak (Evan's brother) conceptualized and choreographed this video for DRA (Dancers Responding To AIDS). DRA is a sister organization of BC/EFA (Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS). To Donate, click on the links provided.

Broadway Bares

It is that time of the year again. Since 1992, Broadway's best and brightest performers have been taking it off (or most of it anyway) to support a good cause. Broadway Bares is an annual benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Scheduled to appear this Sunday June 17 are Chicago's Bebe Neuwirth, Curtains' David Hyde Pierce, Legally Blonde's Laura Bell Bundy, Mary Poppins' Ashley Brown, Spamalot's Christopher Sieber. Not a bad way to usher in the hot summer.

(poster image from the Broadway Cares website)

ADDENDUM: an INTERVIEW with JERRY MITCHELL the creator of Broadway Bares on how this Broadway tradition started