This year's Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction raised a record-breaking $1,237,179 for Broadway Cares October 1. The annual event in the theatre district creates countless opportunities for theatre fans to take home special items, bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and meet their favorite stars, all for the cost of donations to the beloved Broadway non-profit.
Theatrical memorabilia from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as well as treasures from theatre owners and producing organizations, unions, guilds, marketing groups, ticket agencies, concessionaires, and fan clubs lined up on West 44th and West 45th Streets at the all-day event. This year, tables varied from shows currently running like & Juliet and Wicked, to the recently closed The Phantom of the Opera, and even a La Cage Aux Folles table celebrating the show's 40th anniversary. The tables at this year’s flea market raised $552,549.
The highest-fundraising table this year was also last year's highest-fundraising table, with the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers raising an all-time record of $78,671.
Other top tables included Telecharge and The Shubert Organization raising $28,746, Hadestown with $28,533, TDF’s Pik-a-Tkt with $24,212, Sweeney Todd with $23,617, United Scenic Artists with $20,951, and The Phantom of the Opera and Michael Crawford International Fan Association with $18,436.
The grand live auction also smashed records this year, raising $493,500, breaking 2017's record of $381,450. The most popular experience up for auction was a business-class trip to London, courtesy of Broadway Cares’ official airline United, to see three West End shows and meet the legendary Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga after seeing them star in Sondheim’s Old Friends, which went for $32,000.
The silent auction raised $177,159, with its top seller being a “Wait For It” musical phrase from Hamilton, handwritten and signed by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
FleaBay, the digital realm of the Broadway Flea Market, offered fans from all around the world the thrilling opportunity to find special Broadway treasures. FleaBay raised $13,971 this year.
Theatre fans had the opportunity to meet their Broadway favorites at the Autograph Table and Photo Booth for the price of a donation, and this year's participating stars included Harvey Fierstein, Casey Likes, David Abeles, Eric Anderson, Philippe Arroyo, Sonya Balsara, Danny Burstein, David Byrne, DeMarius Copes, Lorna Courtney, Charlotte d'Amboise, Kevin Del Aguila, John Dossett, Claybourne Elder, Kim Exum, Steve Haggard, Ann Harada, Vincent Jamal Hooper, Elijah Rhea Johnson, Cherry Jones, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, McKenzie Kurtz, Melanie La Barrie, Beth Leavel, Jose Llana, Brittney Mack, Michael Maliakel, Kimberly Marable, Alli Mauzey, Howard McGillin, Bonnie Milligan, Bebe Neuwirth, Lauren Patten, Michele Pawk, Jelani Remy, Austin Scott, Dennis Stowe, Paulo Szot, L. Steven Taylor, Michael Urie and Ben Jackson Walker.
Broadway Cares, the philanthropic heart of Broadway, is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources , and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and other critical illnesses across the United States.
