Sure to out-do last year's collection, 40 one-of-a-kind BROADWAY BEARS - each dressed in original, handmade costumes representing some of the theater's most legendary performers and/or performances - will be put up for auction. BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a daily sneak peek of some of the wonderful creations that await you at BROADWAY BEARS XII, get ready to go 'all over the world' with the 'Broadway Bear' from XANADU!

Skie Ocasio is performing at the Metropolitan Room on February 7th for a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Equity Fights AIDS was founded in October, 1987 by the Council of Actors' Equity Association. Money raised through the efforts of Equity theatre companies across the country was specifically earmarked for The Actors' Fund's AIDS Initiative. Broadway Cares was founded in February, 1988 by members of The Producers' Group. Money raised was earmarked to be awarded to AIDS service organizations across the country, including Equity Fights AIDS. In May, 1992, Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Cares merged to become Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The Board of Trustees of this newly established not-for-profit fundraising organization assumed the missions of the previously separate organizations and continues to fund the social service work of The Actors' Fund and to award grants twice a year to AIDS service organizations nationwide. Unlike most other nonprofit, grantmaking organizations, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS must raise every single dollar of our philanthropic budget, every year, in order to fulfill our mission. In turn, BC/EFA works hard to ensure that the money we raise is spent carefully and wisely, on programs where these hard-earned funds can have the maximum possible impact.

Told through 24 songs and actual first-hand accounts, the new musical revue----Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? Songs and Stories from The Great Depression will open Sunday, March 8th (3PM) at Off-Broadway's Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street ~ between Broadway & Columbus Avenue). Conceived and staged by Bill Daugherty, this musical time capsule is produced by Thoroughbred Records and Max Weintraub. Preview performances begin March 6th (7PM) & March 7th (3PM) This engagement will run through June 14th.

EXTRAORDINARY EBAY 'AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY' ESTELLE PARSONS VIP BACKSTAGE EXPERIENCE In keeping with their series of 'Extraordinary eBay' packages, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is proud to announce an online auction package created especially for Broadway fans and BC/EFA supporters by Academy Award? winning actress Estelle Parsons and the producers of the Tony? and Pulitzer Prize winning hit play, AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY

David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish, the three young stars playing the title role in the new Broadway hit, Billy Elliot the Musical will make a special guest star appearance at the 5th Annual 'ABC and SOAPnet Salute Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS,' performing the song 'Electricity.'

The 19th edition of the ever-popular BROADWAY BARES has been set for June 21, 2009, once again at Roseland Ballroom. As in the past, two shows will be performed, one at 9:30pm and the other at midnight.

Broadway's cuddliest friends kick off a new year with the 12th annual BROADWAY BEARS auction on Sunday, February 15, 2009 at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42 St.), in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Sure to out-do last year's collection, 40 one-of-a-kind BROADWAY BEARS - each dressed in original, handmade costumes representing some of the theater?s most legendary performers and/or performances ? will be put up for auction. Once again this year's BROADWAY BEARS will be hosted by Bryan Batt ('Mad Men,' La Cage Aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Jeffrey) with long-time Sotheby's auctioneer, Lorna Kelly.

The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea came to life on Friday, January 23 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, the gala event was a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program also featured the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck. Founded in 1991, by former Paul Taylor Dancers Denise Roberts Hurlin and Hernando Cortez, DRA encompasses a network of professional dance companies who raise money through audience appeals and performing DRA events, the Dance Student Outreach Project, and other wide-ranging dance organizations. Proceeds from the evening will be distributed in two ways. The BCEFA National Grants program grants money to almost 500 AIDS and Family Service Organizations across the country as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico and South Africa. Residual funds are also awarded to seven programs of The Actors' Fund of America.

The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea will come to life on Friday, January 23 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, this gala event guarantees to be a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program will also feature the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck.

In-keeping with their series of 'Extraordinary EBay' packages, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is proud to announce an online auction item some fans have been waiting eight years for! Join multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominee Will Ferrell at the opening night of the nearly sold-out run of his new one-man show on Broadway, You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush on February 5, 2009 at the Cort Theatre. The producers of this sure fire hit have generously donated a pair of prime seats along with two passes to the star studded opening night party to be auctioned on ebay with the proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush - It's time for a change in America, but not without a few parting words from the 43rd President of the United States. Don't miss your chance to discover the man behind the myth, the truth behind the lies, and the logic behind the illogical in this limited Broadway event.

Skie Ocasio is performing at the Metropolitan Room on February 7th for a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Equity Fights AIDS was founded in October, 1987 by the Council of Actors' Equity Association. Money raised through the efforts of Equity theatre companies across the country was specifically earmarked for The Actors' Fund's AIDS Initiative. Broadway Cares was founded in February, 1988 by members of The Producers' Group. Money raised was earmarked to be awarded to AIDS service organizations across the country, including Equity Fights AIDS. In May, 1992, Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Cares merged to become Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The Board of Trustees of this newly established not-for-profit fundraising organization assumed the missions of the previously separate organizations and continues to fund the social service work of The Actors' Fund and to award grants twice a year to AIDS service organizations nationwide. Unlike most other nonprofit, grantmaking organizations, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS must raise every single dollar of our philanthropic budget, every year, in order to fulfill our mission. In turn, BC/EFA works hard to ensure that the money we raise is spent carefully and wisely, on programs where these hard-earned funds can have the maximum possible impact.

The 92nd Street Y continues the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists with DAVID ZIPPEL as host and artistic director of It Started with a Dream, February 21-23. Subtitled David Zippel - Lyrics He Wrote, Lyrics He Wishes He Wrote, the Tony award-winning, Oscar-nominated lyricist of City of Angels and Disney's animated Hercules and Mulan, presents highlights from his own scores and shares his inspirations and personal favorites from the American Songbook. The show features an all-Broadway cast, including vocalists KATE BALDWIN (Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty), KEVIN EARLEY (A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Mis?rables), Tony Award-winner DEBBIE GRAVITTE (Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Chicago, Les Mis?rables), DANNY GURWIN (Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty), and Tony Award-winner LILLIAS WHITE (The Life, Dreamgirls, and. the voice of 'Calliope' in Hercules). One of the most acclaimed and sought-after lyricists working today, David Zippel's other credits include the Broadway musical The Goodbye Girl (written with Marvin Hamlisch and Neil Simon), The Woman in White (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, for which Zippel won another Tony nomination) and the musical stage version of Wendy Wasserstein's bestselling children's book, Pamela's First Musical, written with Wasserstein and City of Angels collaborator Cy Coleman. Series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer, in her first season at the helm, notes that this is the first time in over 25 years that L&L will devote an entire show to a contemporary Broadway songwriter at the height of his career--a return to the spirit in which L&L was founded, with the living lyricist as an active participant.

Dallas Theater Center, in association with SMU Meadows School of the Arts, presents In the Beginning, an adaptation of the first 10 chapters of the Book of Genesis, featuring the newly announced DTC acting company, and directed by artistic director Kevin Moriarty. In the Beginning runs Jan. 21-Feb. 15 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. Presenting familiar stories from Genesis - the creation of the world, Adam and Eve in Eden, jealousy and murder among brothers, the world's destruction by water - In the Beginning offers a fresh retelling of age-old tales interspersed with engaging dialogue taken directly from conversations with local community members and respected religious scholars about the text. 'In the Beginning does not present a single, definitive interpretation of the stories we find in Genesis,' Moriarty says. 'Rather, it is a reflection of the conversations we've had with people of faith throughout our community about the text and the personal truths and insights they've found through their own explorations into these stories.'

Dallas Theater Center, in association with SMU Meadows School of the Arts, presents In the Beginning, an adaptation of the first 10 chapters of the Book of Genesis, featuring the newly announced DTC acting company, and directed by artistic director Kevin Moriarty. In the Beginning runs Jan. 21-Feb. 15 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. Presenting familiar stories from Genesis - the creation of the world, Adam and Eve in Eden, jealousy and murder among brothers, the world's destruction by water - In the Beginning offers a fresh retelling of age-old tales interspersed with engaging dialogue taken directly from conversations with local community members and respected religious scholars about the text. 'In the Beginning does not present a single, definitive interpretation of the stories we find in Genesis,' Moriarty says. 'Rather, it is a reflection of the conversations we've had with people of faith throughout our community about the text and the personal truths and insights they've found through their own explorations into these stories.'

Variety is reporting that two-time Tony Winner Donna Murphy has landed a recurring role on the TNT series TRUST ME. In 1994, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Fosca in Stephen Sondheim's and James Lapine's Passion. In 1996, she appeared as Anna Leonowens in the Broadway revival of The King and I alongside Lou Diamond Philips. The role earned her another Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.She also appeared in a revival of Wonderful Town (from 2003 to 2005) and in Lovemusik (2007) as Lotte Lenya, opposite fellow Tony winner Michael Cerveris as Kurt Weill. She also appeared in the recent presentation of Follies by Encores and in the BC/EFA Benefit concert of Pamela's First Musical. Murphy's recent film roles include The Nanny Diaries as Scarlett Johansson's mother and Spider-Man 2 as Rosalie Octavius, wife of Dr. Otto Octavius, the movie's villain. Murphy is perhaps best known to film viewers for her role as Anij in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) as the love interest of Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Two entertainment industry charities: The Toronto-based Actors' Fund of Canada and New York-based Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA)are able to increase their service to the community by a total of $63,000 this winter courtesy of audiences attending Toronto performances of A Chorus Line during the last two weeks of November. The show was presented by Mirvish Productions at the Canon Theatre.

Susan Lucci will headline the 5th Annual 'ABC and SOAPnet Salute Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS' benefit with previously announced co-star and host Cameron Mathison. Mathison chatted about the upcoming event with ABC News, the clip is now available to watch online!

The Cedar Lake Theater in West Chelsea will come to life on Friday, January 24 with a thrilling evening of dance to benefit Dancers Responding To AIDS (DRA), a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). Hosted by Tony Award winning choreographer Rob Ashford, this gala event guarantees to be a soul-stirring showcase of the best and brightest from today's varied dance landscape with performances by American Ballet Theatre, Battleworks, Broadway's 'Billy Elliott,' Camille A. Brown, Dresden Ballet, Les Ballet Grandiva, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The program will also feature the world premiere of TITLE by choreographer Chase Brock performed by NYCB principal Tiler Peck.

Last holiday season, due to the 2007 Broadway stagehands' strike, fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and sales of its annual holiday CD, Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, were gravely impacted. With most theaters dark, the main source of sales of the CD was cut off. Stephen DeAngelis, NYC casting director and Artistic Director from the Engeman Theater, contacted Lynn Pinto, Executive Producer of Carols for a Cure, to see if they could sell the CDs to help make up for strike losses. The Engeman Theater sold hundreds of the CDs. In gratitude, Ms. Pinto invited performers from the Engeman Theater to record a track of their own for the 2008 CD.

Back in Pictures celebrates the songs that were originally written for the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring music from Casablanca, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, Pennies From Heaven, Disney, Meet Me In St. Louis, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Back in Pictures is showing at the Reprise Room, 245 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, New York, from April 7, 2008 through January 5, 2009.

In keeping with their series of 'Extraordinary EBay' packages, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is proud to announce an online auction item guaranteed to please both horse lovers and Harry Potter fans alike. Bidders will be champing at the bit with this exciting new package from the smash-hit Broadway revival of Peter Shaffer's 1975 Tony Award?-winning play, EQUUS!

THE BROADWAY BEARS XII has been set for Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill 237 W42nd Street. Broadway Bears is an auction featuring a cuddly chorus line of one-of-a-kind teddy bears, each meticulously outfitted in original, handmade costumes by Broadway's leading costume designers and representing memorable characters from plays and musicals, past and present.

On January 4th 2009, after over 2,641 performances, the curtain will fall at the Neil Simon Theater on the final performance of Broadway's 2003 Tony Award? musical HAIRSPRAY starring original cast members Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. The producers of this landmark musical have generously donated a pair of orchestra seats to be auctioned on ebay with the proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

The 20th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $3,061,000 had been raised by the 63 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras had VIP access on all levels to bring you the most complete coverage of this very special event!

The 20th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $3,061,000 had been raised by the 63 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras had VIP access on all levels to bring you the most complete coverage of this very special event!