Red Bucket Follies Raises Record-Breaking $6,113,301 for BC/EFA
(© Matthew Murphy)
Red Bucket Follies (formerly known as Gypsy of the Year), which was held December 3 and 4, raised $6,113,301 for Broadway Cares, the highest fall fundraising total in Broadway Cares' 30-year history. The record was announced Tuesday by Cherry Jones (The Lifespan of a Fact), Christopher Sieber (The Prom) and Michael Urie (Torch Song). The special guests also presented the awards to the top fundraisers and best performances across the two afternoons.
The company of Kinky Boots took top honors for best onstage presentation. Dressed in their "True Colors," a rainbow of head-to-toe spandex bodysuits, the cast performed a parody of the Frank Sinatra classic "My Way" as they lamented hardships of saying goodbye to a Broadway show. The runner-up was the company of Frozen, who presented a dance piece, choreographed by Donald Jones Jr. The number celebrated community and acceptance, set to V.V. Brown's "What We All Need Now More Than Anything Is to See People Enjoying Each Other."
This year's top overall fundraising award went to Hamilton – Angelica tour, which raised $515,152.
This year's opening number celebrated Asian-American actors on Broadway and commemorated the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking Flower Drum Song. Stars from the 1958 Broadway production, 1961 movie and first road company joined actors from the 2002 revival company and the first national touring company for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion. In all, more than 40 Asian performers joined in the onstage celebration, which featured Sandra Allen, Marcus Choi, Ali Ewoldt, Ericka Hunter, Alvin Y. F. Ing, Baayork Lee, Telly Leung, Jose Llana, Jodi Long, and Ashley Park. The number was directed and choreographed by Alex Sanchez and conceived by Leung and Lainie Sakakura.
The Red Bucket Follies builds on the 29-year legacy of the Gypsy of the Year competition, which honors the work of the theater's ensemble singers and dancers. The show showcases ensemble members and special guests performing original skits, songs, and dances, with awards given to the best presentation and for the top fundraisers from the six weeks' efforts.
