Gypsy of the Year Raises Record $3,359,000 for BC/EFA
Harvey Fierstein, Hugh Jackman, and Bernadette Peters
took to the stage to announce the winners and runners-up
(Photo © Michael Portantiere)
The 2003 Gypsy of the Year competition raised a record $3,359,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) — an amount that surpasses last year’s intake by more than $1 million. The Gypsy of the Year performances were held on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, December 8 and 9, hosted by Mario Cantone and Julie Halston and featuring special appearances by Harvey Fierstein, Hugh Jackman, and Bernadette Peters.
The show that raised the most money for BC/EFA was the Broadway production of The Boy From Oz, starring Jackman, with $632,998; the previous record had been held by Hairspray, which raised $375,607 last year. Among the runners-up announced yesterday were the Broadway productions of Mamma Mia! ($133,286), Gypsy ($147,366), The Phantom of the Opera ($155,964), and Hairspray ($303,024). The top fund-raising Broadway play was The Retreat from Moscow, the Off-Broadway musical Fame on 42nd Street raised $18,004, and the second national tour of Mamma Mia! raised $154,325.
The company of Broadway’s Aida won the presentation award for their number “Un-Done.” Urinetown was the runner-up.
