Ilene Kristen News

Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together on March 18 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42nd Street) for one last time to bid on - and bid adieu to - museum-quality bears representing legendary theatrical characters and autographed by the stars who made those characters famous. The cumulative fundraising total for the 15 editions of THE BROADWAY BEARS auctions is a remarkable $2,048,427. The previous fund-raising record was $170,000 set in 2002.

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld on hand and brings you an exclusive look inside at the farewell event.

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Carole Demas, Broadway's original "Sandy" (Grease), and Star of TV's The Magic Garden is celebrating the 40th Birthdays of both GREASE and The Magic Garden at the Laurie Beechman Theatre inside the West Bank Cafe (407 West 42nd Street at Ninth Avenue; 212-695-6909; www.beechmantheatre.com)

Carole Demas, Broadway's original "Sandy" (Grease), and Star of TV's The Magic Garden is celebrating the 40th Birthdays of both GREASE and The Magic Garden at the Laurie Beechman Theatre inside the West Bank Cafe (407 West 42nd Street at Ninth Avenue; 212-695-6909; www.beechmantheatre.com)

Celebrity Events Group just announced "Loving Llanview" (www.lovingllanview.com), an interactive fan event dedicated to ABC's long running soap opera One Life to Live (series finale airs Friday, January 20, 2012). Fans will be up close and personal with 10 of their favorite stars in a high energy, wildly entertaining, unscripted event. The audience will participate in an engaging question and answer session and enjoy stumping the actors with One Life to Live trivia. This is followed by a highly emotional "walk down memory lane," where stories from on and off the set are shared.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and 6, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.

The opening number featured the original Broadway cast of Grease reuniting for a special 40-year anniversary tribute. Among the stars returning to the stage from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history are Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino) and Walter Bobbie (Roger). Also joining the opening number reunion are original cast members Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene Florczyk ), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady) and Mews Small (Frenchy). Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey, garnered seven Tony Award nominations and played 3,388 Broadway performances before closing April 13, 1980.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, which was presented Monday, December 5 and today, Tuesday, December 6 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, featured performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, to be presented Monday, December 5 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 5 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 W. 42nd Street), will feature performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, to be presented Monday, December 5 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 5 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 W. 42nd Street), will feature performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011 over 200 people attended 'Stockings with Care's Celebrity Bartending Night' in New York City at Hudson Station Bar and Grill. Stockings with Care provides holiday gifts for children whose families either live in homeless shelters or are in jeopardy of becoming homeless.

The original Broadway cast of Grease will reunite next month for a special 40-year anniversary tribute during the opening number of the 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Carole Demas, star of TV's The Magic Garden and Broadway's original ‘Sandy' (Grease) announces her fall performance schedule, including a performance at NYC's famed Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Carole Demas, star of TV's The Magic Garden and Broadway's original ‘Sandy' (Grease) announces her fall performance schedule, including a performance at NYC's famed Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Carole Demas, star of TV's The Magic Garden and Broadway's original ‘Sandy' (Grease) announces her fall performance schedule, including a performance at NYC's famed Laurie Beechman Theatre.

The 2011 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market ran on Sunday, September 25th from 10 AM - 7 PM on West 44th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, and, for the first time, extended into Times Square, between 43rd and 44th Streets. Check out Photo Coverage below of the celebrity area backstage, where food was graciously donated by Tony's DiNapoli. !

The 2011 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market ran on Sunday, September 25th from 10 AM - 7 PM on West 44th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, and, for the first time, extended into Times Square, between 43rd and 44th Streets. Check out Part One of our Photo Coverage below.

Carole Demas, star of TV's The Magic Garden and Broadway's original 'Sandy' (Grease) announces two performances at NYC's famed Laurie Beechman Theatre (September 19 and October 17).

Drama Desk Award Winner Doreen Montalvo hosts Ladies Night 3 at The Laurie Beechman theatre on June 13th. What do you get when you put together a Broadway Diva,A Daytime Diva and two Fabulous ladies? You Get Ladies Night. Performing along with Doreen will be Daytime Diva Ilene Kristen, Kim Dunbar,and METROMINOR 2nd Place winner Samara Ehrlich joins the ladies. The evening willbe musical directed by Gillian Berkowitz.