Is Gypsy doing anything for Broadway Cares fundraising?

[mikem]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:54am

I know that this is the last week for Broadway Cares fundraising, and I was interested in getting merchandise (a signed windowcard?) from Gypsy if there is any. Someone earlier said that there wasn't anything being done, but I just wanted to check. Thanks!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 1:56pm

Patti is not "big" on curtain speeches and collecting.

But she does a lot of work for BCEFA on her own.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 8:00pm

Patti feels uncomfortable asking audience members to fork over more money (even for a worthy cause) after they've spent $110+ for theater tickets. She does, however, do concerts to support BCEFA and has joined the celebrity table at the Flea market.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 8:28pm

I saw Gypsy during the last fundraiser and they were selling full cast signed windowcards.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:03pm

I applaud all the work Patti has done for BCEFA and AIDS awareness, she has certainly done her part.
But I do find it somewhat confusing that her feeling about collecting after the show stops other cast and crew members
from helping out if this is their only way to contribute.
Yes, it takes some extra time every night but think how much $ any remnant from Patti's retinue would collect from her fervant fans.
Funny how a show that helped coin the term "Gypsy" is not collecting for "gypsies and others" during GYPSY OF THE YEAR and BCEFA's most lucrative fundraising season.
It's a conundrum, for sure.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:12pm

I love Patti, but I wholeheartedly disagree with her stance on this issue.

[RoxieRose4]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:22pm

I think they still collect, there just isn't a speech at the Curtain Call.

[Mutts2]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:54pm

Did LuPone participate in the Flea Market Celebrity table? A friend and I were just wondering about this the other day. I said I didn't think she had ,and he said that if Bernadette did it when she was in Gypsy, he didn't see why iron-lungs LuPone wouldn't have been able to do it.

As for LuPone not allowing the BC/EFA curtain speech, I could understand her position when the cast members just stood at the exits with the buckets, but nowadays any of the shows with a motivated cast and/or crew offer all sorts of merchandise or opportunities to raise funds. I knew a guy who gave $500 to go backstage after Sunset Boulevard to get his poster personally autographed by Glen Close and didn't the Boy From Oz let 10 people a night come up on stage to take a picture with Hugh Jackman. Personally I don't think it would dampen anyone's experience if an actor you have just enjoyed watching onstage announces that there are autographed CDs, window cards, whatever for audience members to purchase and the proceeds go to help BC/EFA and all the wonderful things that organization supports.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:13am

"A Picture With Patti"

Not sure if she would agree, but people would pay.

[nybearhugz]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 1:20am

There was no announcement tonight - but Carols for a Cure and and signed windowcards (50.00) were being sold after the show tonight

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 9:52am

^No Patti wasn't at the Broadway Flea Market celebrity table this year But Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines were!


Updated On: 12/6/08 at 09:52 AM

[A Director]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 2:49pm

If she doesn't want to take part, she could retire to her dressing room.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 3:01pm

Well, that didn't work too well at MOISES OFF.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 3:28pm

With the advent of using merchandise, autographed posters, pictures, tours, etc., I think they've moved away from the "drop a dollar in the bucket on your way out" type of fundraising. I enjoy getting something "unique" when I donate to BC/EFA, like the signed bottle of hairspray I got at Hairspray last spring.

That being said, the most convincing fundraising line I've heard was last year at a performance of Wicked when the cast member giving the speech thanked the audience for filling the house, and went on to say that if "each person in attendance gave just one dollar, we'd raise almost two thousand dollars at this single performance." Simple, and incredibly effective.