April 14, 2015
'Broadway Bares' Brings the 'Top Bottoms of Burlesque' to B'way
EDGE READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Broadway Bares, the unrivaled evening of sexy striptease that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will celebrate its 25th spectacular edition on Sunday, June 21, with "Broadway Bares: Top Bottoms of Burlesque," a show inspired by the golden age of Broadway.
In a lavish and thrilling extravaganza, "Broadway Bares: Top Bottoms of Burlesque" will feature a cast of colorful characters for every desire and fantasy. Broadway's iconic personalities - from devilish divas to charismatic casting directors, luscious lyricists to studly stagehands - will combine the naughtiness of burlesque with the razzle-dazzle of Broadway.
More than 150 of the hottest male and female dancers in New York City will take to the stage at Hammerstein Ballroom for two sensational shows at 9:30 p.m. and midnight.
This year, Broadway Bares welcomes back to the director's chair its Tony Award-winning creator and executive producer, Jerry Mitchell, who directed and choreographed the Tony-winning Best Musical "Kinky Boots" and is directing the upcoming Broadway musical "On Your Feet." "Broadway Bares: Top Bottoms of Burlesque" will be co-directed by Nick Kenkel, who also directed last year's "Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!" and "Broadway Bares: United Strips of America" in 2013.
"A lot of things can happen in 25 years, but who would've thought that seven guys dancing on a bar could grow into an annual event that has raised so much to help people living with HIV and AIDS," Mitchell said. "Broadway Bares has done that. And this year we're going full out, maybe even with a top hat and our version of tails, 'cause if, baby, you're a bottom, you're the top."
Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased online at broadwaycares.org. VIP tickets include open bar and reserved table seats from special viewing areas. Also available are the exclusive "Stripper Spectacular" package, which includes a reserved table seat at either show, admission to a private cocktail party with Mitchell, a backstage tour and more; and the "Producers' Circle," which includes the "Stripper Spectacular" offerings plus unprecedented access all weekend long. For more information and merchandise, visit broadwaybares.com.
Last year's "Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!" raised a staggering $1,386,105.
Mitchell, a two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer, conceived and directed the first 13 editions of Broadway Bares and has served as executive producer ever since. He created Broadway Bares when he was a dancer in "The Will Rogers Follies."
The first Broadway Bares featured Mitchell and six friends stripping on a bar and raised $8,000. To date, the 24 editions of Broadway Bares have raised more than $12.6 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
""Broadway Bares: Top Bottoms of Burlesque" takes place Sunday, June 21 at Hammerstein Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased online at broadwaycares.org. For more information and merchandise, visit broadwaybares.com
