Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids Flea Market
Growing up, I was always an activist for Broadway Cares: Equity Fights Aids. In high school, it seemed as if every thespian event or conference I attended was raising money to support BCEFA. I use to organize fundraisers and events by the dozen…But as we grow up and our lives get busier, we sometimes forget about the bigger picture.
Every fall, Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids sponsors the annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction to raise money for this unbelievable cause. The first street fair took place in 1987, and raised a total of $12,000. Some twenty years later, this event is back and bigger than ever, raising a grand total of $547,658. This festival, which took place on Sunday, September 25th, played host to both live and silent auctions, street vendors, raffles, autographs/ signings, and live performances…All of this to serve a single purpose: To bring theatre lovers together for a wonderful cause and for the greater good. In the past two decades (and still going strong), Broadway Cares has successfully managed to raise roughly $9,185,327. That is simply unbelievable…It really shows what a group of artists can accomplish together. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something that has taken on a life of it’s own (even if I wasn’t there this past Sunday to put in my two cents…
Tim Viola, who currently serves as the executive director of the Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids program said, “It’s wonderful to see so many Broadway Cares supporters and theatre fans from all over the country, and exhilarating to witness such extraordinary efforts by New York’s theatre community — from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, unions, guilds, theatre offices and other theatre-related businesses — who work so hard in the weeks leading up to this event…”
Aside from your average posters, buttons, and show memorabilia, the program organizes numerous opportunities for bidders and theatre lovers alike. Walk on roles for Broadway Shows (including full hair and make up), front row tickets to upcoming opening night productions, and visits to the sets of the hottest shows on television (Modern Family and SNL to be more specific!) were all up for auction.
Reading about the festival was just such a lovely reminder of how much we can accomplish when we set our mind to it. Many moons ago, this was just a little fundraiser, perhaps a car wash or a bake sale. It is our passion as artists and our love for the theatre that has made this possible. And will continue to do so for years to come…
