A Few Thoughts on the 2019 Broadway Flea Market

As Mike said as we hit the Lincoln Tunnel, another Broadway Flea Market is in the books. $870,167 was the final tally - way to go, theater fans! We all braved the heat, the crowds and the scaffolding, and hopefully most of us came away with some new and beloved treasures. We're already looking forward to next year! How about you?

Here's what I came away with:

• It seemed both less crowded and more crowded than usual. Even with all the scaffolding, Shubert Alley seemed easier to navigate all day. And yet, at some tables, it was uncomfortably tight. Seems all of the most important people in the world came to the flea market. You know the ones - they have no regard for anyone but themselves. Taking up coveted space long after they've made their purchases so they can chat with their friends. Move away from the tables to have conversations, huh? This seemed to be the norm at several booths I visited.

• Speaking of those folks (though this applies everywhere these days, not just at the flea), am I getting to be a cranky old man when I am annoyed at people with no regard to their surroundings who stop dead in the middle of traffic flow to chat/hug/squeal in delight?

• I miss the flea markets of yesteryear when they blocked off 44th Street and booths were on both sides of the street than around the block on half the street. I know...traffic...blah, blah, blah...

• I would love to be the person who figures out a way to spread out those bins full of Playbills/Posters/Programs so that more than six people at at time can look through them.

• Add me to the list of people disappointed with the Moulin Rouge table. Talk about a missed opportunity! Broadway's hottest new show had almost nothing left at 10:45 AM. I was ready to drop some serious cash for the cause for a little piece of the show.

Still for all my complaining, I had a great time and picked up a few things for friends (which I can't tell you about because they'll read it) and a couple of new treasures for myself. I love my To Kill A Mockingbird Tony Voters book, and I found some great cards to fill in my Lights of Broadway card collection. Now, they were organized! I was impressed with the whole table, and Squigs is such a nice guy!

And the non-autograph table star-gazing was great as always. Julie Halston, Patti Murin, Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Jeff Daniels, Telly Leung, and Ryan McPartlin were just a few people I bumped into as I walked around. One or two I literally bumped into!

Finally, as I noted in last week's Friday 5, I got to see some really wonderful, like-minded people. High school boys holding hands. High school girls holding hands. The Beetlejuice cosplay fans. And it seems the older gentlemen with canvas tote bags seem to have created an army!

📸: A. Stock

#2172

The Friday 5: 5 BC/EFA Flea Market Things I Hope to Find

The third Sunday of September is one of my favorite days of each year. I love the BC/EFA Flea Market! (I appreciate the auction, but it is way out of my price range...) So this Friday 5 is what I hope to find while I'm there. (Use the email above & let us know what treasures you will be seeking!)

THE FRIDAY 5:

5 Things We Hope to Find

at the 2019 Broadway Flea Market

5. Star Gazing: Okay, so I don't do the autograph table, which would certainly allow me to see lots of celebrities. But I like my star sightings to be less formal. It's much more fun for me to chat briefly while making a purchase or just say "hello" as they pass by. I figure they don't want to be fawned over as they navigate the crowds on their way to work.  And it's funny, but more times than not, the low key interaction garners a nicer response. That said, as far as autographs go, I get my fair share of signed Playbills for the cause.

4. People Watching: Where else are you ever going to find as many like-minded people in one place? And, if we are honest with each other, theater lovers are a decidedly...unique...group. I love the spontaneous singing, the kids who are in a safe space to express their true selves, the older gentlemen who carry canvas tote bags. So much to see.

3. The Lights of Broadway Cards/Squigs Drawings: I love his artwork, and I've become a collector of these cards over the past year. So this will be my first time at that table. I hope to fill in a few holes in my collection!

2. Good Bargains: Well, duh! Since it's all for a charity I really believe in, it's difficult to get too upset if I see something at one table and buy it, then see it again, only cheaper. But hey, here's hoping I see some great deals. Side note: I really hope to avoid any snarky sellers like last year at the Pretty Woman table. Geez, I only asked if we could negotiate the price of a signed poster! "You do realize we are one of the hottest tickets in town, right?" Ha! Joke's on you...

1. Gifts for My Theater Pals: Armed with the knowledge of each of their favorite shows, my primary goal is to find some thing extra special for them. Last year, I found a one-of-a-kind doozy for Mike. The best part is both he and our friend Val are both doing the same thing for me! Then, we keep what we find as a secret until out annual holiday dinner party. They are the best! 

If you run into them, I'd love something from Dear Evan Hansen, Moulin Rouge, Head Over Heels... but, unless it is free, they can keep the Pretty Woman poster!

📸: Lights of Broadway Cards photo by Justin "Squigs" Robertson; other photos and images from Broadway Cares

#2170

The Friday 5: Broadway Flea Market Thoughts

Last Sunday, Mike, our mutual friend and I made our annual trek to the big city for The Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction. We, along with several thousand of other theater-loving fans spent the sunny, pleasantly warm day pouring over thousands of bits of show memorabilia and related ephemera. I guess the three of us don't take full advantage. We don't do the autograph lines or photo booth, and we have never in more than a decade placed a bid at the auction. But we go every year like clockwork. A couple of meals and a show (this year, it was The Band's Visit) round out the day before, sated and exhausted, we head for home. Until next year!

Here are 5 thoughts - good and bad - about the event:

The Friday 5:

5 Broadway

Flea Market Thoughts

PERFECT WEATHER, SMALLER CROWDS: It was a stunning day - sunny, warm, but not hot, with a nice light breeze. Turns out that postponing Flea by a week worked out for the best; the previous weekend was a rainy mess. We mentally prepared ourselves for larger, weather-fueled crowds. But it was much easier to get around than it had been in previous years. No crushing crowds (save for the feeding frenzy by the Mean Girls table), and I never had an easier time walking through Shubert Alley - even at the peak of auction mania!

DIMINISHING RETURNS: Don't get me wrong, I'll still attend, but I feel like every year, there is less and less to look through, and a lot of duplicate merchandise at more than one table. And so predictable. Wicked is still getting rid of old Chisery masks, and after at least three years of trying, they still haven't gotten anyone to take the If/Then sign off their hands. (HINT: Lower the price...) And The Lion King is still doing the baked goods thing. (HINT: When flies gather on uncovered peach cobbler, fan them off. And offer decent napkins...)

GREAT PLACE TO COMPLETE COLLECTIONS: With patience and tenacity (and a pushy elbow), you can find obscure Playbills and window cards. I, myself found a couple of souvenir programs after a relatively short visit to a table with bins full of them. Fun story: a guy plopped down a box full of Bette Midler Hello, Dolly! programs (super cheap given what they were) and it was like sharks circling chum - the show queens came out of nowhere. No lives were lost.

OVER PRICED LACK OF BARGAINS: Look, I know this is for charity, and things are priced to get maximum cash for the cause. But a Tarzan coffee table book, with some black ink scribbled in the inside cover - no one at the table could say for sure whose "signature" it was - for $175? Really? Then there's not one but two tables from two new shows selling autographed window cards for a decent, but still pricey amount. Picture it - it's after 6, almost everyone on the street was gone or almost done packing. I walk up to one and ask if the price was lowered or negotiable. Eye roll, rude comment about being lucky they even have such a collector's item, and I'm walking away. To be fair, the other person at the table called after me, "Wait! For $10 less, you can get a Playbill that the entire cast signed!" So... the more expensive, non-negotiable poster doesn't have every signature???

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ON MY CHRISTMAS LIST: Being friends with theater-lovers can be a blessing or a curse; we usually buy things we want from shows we love for ourselves. BUT every year we still manage to find things you just can't find anywhere else. I'd elaborate, but Mike will read this, and I don't want him to know what I found from one of his favorite shows. (It was difficult enough getting it home without him seeing it!)

#1911

Looking Forward to Fall: September - November 2018

Today's Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. Instead of being sad that the summer season is over, I'm choosing to be optimistic about the coming fall. But first, let's have quick review of what turned out to be a busier-than-usual post-Tonys three months. I enjoyed it more than most it would seem, especially since I found my newest musical obsession: Head Over Heels (A+). I also really enjoyed both The Boys in the Band (A) and Pretty Woman: The Musical (B+).

The fall looks to be pretty busy, too, at least on Broadway. There are 10 shows opening between September and November, including 2 new musicals, 1 play revival and a whopping 7 new plays. Here's what I'm looking forward to this fall:

Passion (Signature Theatre, Virginia) 

Okay, so this is a holdover from summer, but I'm actually seeing it in fall! One of my favorite Sondheim musicals, done by one of my favorite regional theaters, and starring two of my favorite theater people (Claybourne Elder and Natascia Diaz). What's not to be excited about?

So much happiness...

Giorgio...

The Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction (Theatre District)

Mike and I (and our very good friend) have made this annual event a tradition - shopping and a show! We always split up and find one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts for each other, grab lunch and head off to a show...

The Band's Visit (on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

It'll be the third Visit for Mike and me, and first for our friend - and it's her birthday gift, too! We are looking forward to seeing Katrina Lenk again, and the new Tewfiq, Sasson Gabay, too. And of course, I'm looking forward to Papi, Haled and Telephone Guy...

The Waverly Gallery (on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre)

Hard to determine what was the biggest attraction here: a Pulitzer Prize-nominated play by Kenneth Lonergan, or a cast including the legendary Elaine May, two of our favorite young actors, Michael Cera and Lucas Hedges, and the director of one of our all-time favorite musicals, David Cromer. (I love directors who also act!) Speaking of directors, we are also excited to see Lila Neugebauer's Broadway debut!

King Kong (on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre) 

We decided to take a chance on this, mostly because I want to see that giant puppet in action, and we got decent front mezz seats at a very reasonable price. On the other hand, the new video they released last week, "Queen of New York," featuring the human star of the show, Christiani Pitts, looks (and sounds) pretty good to me.

The Prom (on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre) 

It sounds like it could be fun and topical.  I love the cast - Beth Leavel and Christopher Sieber never disappoint, and Angie Schworer is one of my absolutely favorite ensemblists (looking forward to seeing her in a role!), plus, it'll be great to see Caitlin Kinnunen again (loved her in Spring Awakening and The Bridges of Madison County). I also have high hopes for Bob Martin's book and Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin's score, having enjoyed their previous efforts on The Drowsy Chaperone and The Wedding Singer. And Mean Girls not withstanding, Casey Nicholaw is a very reliable director/choreographer.

What are you looking forward this fall? Send us an email or Tweet us!

#1886

The Fleas I Got This Year

So, it's been a busy week for me!  Finally a chance to sit down and take a breath!

Well, last Sunday, as you know, was the 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction.  It was my 6th visit to the event, and one of my favorites!  Here in no particular order are my thoughts on the day:

From breakfast at the Edison (yummy, fast and cheap) to shopping the flea market to seeing Once to dinner at Dallas BBQ, it was great to spend the day with my two besties!

• About that breakfast at the Edison: they make some awesome home fries!
• About dinner at Dallas BBQ... amazed at the chicken wings!  How big are those birds, anyway?...dismayed to find a "B" in the front window...
• The weather was pretty perfect - sun, a small breeze, no humidity.  I wasn't sweaty one minute! (I'm known to sweat during a blizzard!)
• Biggest moment of confusion: watching them take down the A Christmas Story sign at the Lunt-Fontanne, and bedazzle the place with Motown: The Musical regalia... we asked around, people seemed surprised, too.  Later, mystery solved: Motown made a commercial the following day.  

The Wicked booth made the most money this year: over $17K!

• Biggest improvement to the event: Even more booths in the Times Square pedestrian mall, and, even better, moving the Grand Auction out there, too.  More room to move and breathe.  It made it feel like there weren't as many people there.
• Best Booth: TIE: Newsies: Best Keepsake for the money: $5.00 for a photo with a Newsie (or more than one Newsie), and overall the best selection of collectibles, reasonably priced: trading cards, signed Playbills (opening night and current cast), signed showcards, signed props, and the cutest salesmen on Broadway.  And Evita: Personal collectibles from cast members for sale, handmade gifts (the moustache candles were cool), plus a signed photo of Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett.  And, if you timed it right, Max von Essen would sell it to you!

The Newsies selling cool Newsies stuff!

• Great star-gazing, not just at the booths and autograph lines, but shopping with the rest of us.  Sighted: Andrew and Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jan Maxwell, Will Swensen, Steve Kazee, Ben Fankhauser and  Kara Lindsay among others!
• Best Bargain: $1.00 showcards at the Triton Gallery booth.  The selection was great this year, and throughout the day, too.  Turns out the only purchase I made: posters from Baby, It's You!, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Clybourne Park, Rock of Ages and my favorite poster from 2 seasons ago: Wonderland.  Plus: An Opening Night poster for All My Sons!  I saved $95.00 on the first five!
• The Thing I'd Have Purchased If I Had $100 in My Pocket: An original Opening Night gift created by a cast member of Bring It On: a deck of playing cards featuring backstage photos, production photos, unused production photos, and personal photos.  And some of them autographed, too.

The Bring It On gals - those cards are the 2nd item from the left!

• Best Time at the Flea Market: Watching a complete section of the Grand Auction, from the witty repartee of the hosts, trying to describe the items, to the actual auction.  I watched a guy named Matthew part with well over $3,000 in less than 10 minutes.  His bounty: two framed signed posters - Angels in America  and Falsettos, and a framed, signed series of original costume designs for the Evita revival.  Good for him, and even better for...

Check out this shot with Rebecca in the background.
Do you think it'll actually happen?

• Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  This year's even was record-breaking: $681,829 for Sunday, and a total of over $9.87 million over the 26 events.

OH!  And Once was even better the second time!  Bravo, cast!

Before you go...

• ...have you voted in this week's HOT or NOT? ANNIE, Part 1.  CLICK HERE. 
• ...have you checked out this week's FACE OF THE FUTURE?  CLICK HERE.
• ...have you checked out MS. BROADWAY SEPTEMBER 2012, CHRISTIANE NOLL?  CLICK her picture in the right hand column to see more and to hear her sing from Ragtime!
• ...have you VOTED in this month's THEATRE POLL? CLICK your answer on the poll in the left column!

Jeff

4.031

Comments? Questions? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (Email); or leave a comment below and check a box!

Getting Broadway Fleas...Again

My absolutely favorite Broadway event is tomorrow!  Of course, I'm talking about The 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction! This is my 5th year in a row, and I can't imagine missing it.  Why do I love it so?  Well, the obvious answer is that it combines my two favorite things shopping and Broadway.  But I also love it because it is a chance to (literally) rub elbows with people as passionate about Broadway (and shopping) as I am.  And I think it is great because it is one of the few things in the world that can be enjoyed no matter how much money you have.

Little $ - There are things at the booths that range from pennies to less than $5.00.

The gang at lysistrata Jones had FREE pom poms and souvenir
basketballs for $1.00 donations and basketball tossing!

Small $$ - There are many things at the booths that can run from $6.00 - $10.00.  $10.00 can get your photo with your favorite Broadway star. (Per photo)

Medium $$$ - There are some great special items at the booths that run from $12.00 - $50.00.  $30.00 can get you a ton of face-to-fade autographs with your favorite Broadway stars!  ($30.00 covers autographs for 1 of the 1 hour periods.  The stars rotate each hour, and each set of stars costs $30.00.)

Last year, $30 got you Rose Hemingway, Rory O'Malley,
Andrew Rannells and Bobby Canavale (and several others)!

Big $$$$ - Can get you anything you want, as usual.  But the difference here is that (1) the items at the Grand Auction are PRIMO for Broadway fans! (If you really love this blog, feel free to get me lunch with Angela Lansbury!)

Last year, Max von Essen came out as a Britney Spears fan!
Yes, that's her doll and tour bus... signed and everything!

But the best thing about this event is that 100% of the proceeds go to a great cause: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS! For ALL the information on the event and the organization you'll ever need, click HERE.

Alice Ripley fans got a super cool candid!
Yes, the stars walk among us at the Flea Market!

Mike and I will be there, with our mutual friend.  This year's show will be Once.  See you there!  Say hi!  (I'll be the one in the shorts, and backpack!  LOL.  Me and a hundred others...)

Before you go...

• ...have you TWEETED ME with hash tag #SickofBway naming the Broadway shows you are so OVER!
• ...have you checked out this week's FACE OF THE FUTURE?  CLICK HERE.  He's a cutie!
• ...have you checked out MS. BROADWAY SEPTEMBER 2012, CHRISTIANE NOLL?  CLICK her picture in the right hand column to see more and to hear her sing from Ragtime!
• ...have you VOTED in this month's THEATRE POLL? CLICK your answer on the poll in the left column!

Jeff

4.024

Comments? Questions? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (Email); or leave a comment below and check a box!

My Day at the Flea Market

Expecting bad weather, my friends and I spent a good part of Saturday monitoring the New York City weather forecast.  It fluctuated between a 30% to an 80% chance. Ick, right?  Well, it turned out that all three of us bringing our umbrellas to the 25th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction not only kept the rain at bay, but the sun even made a few appearances!

Of course, the real success of the day was the over one-half a million dollars raised for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS!  For details and more numbers, check out THIS.

For me, there is no other event where I feel so connected to the world around me.  I mean, think about it, thousands of people who share a love and passion for theatre coming together for a great cause, and also submerge ourselves in more than city block's worth of memories, history and art.  And the fact that right along with us are the artists themselves, volunteering time, and not just photo ops and autographs, but real time talking to fans.  How fortunate we all are to share such an experience like this. 

Here are a few of my impressions of the day:

• Best Trend: BRIGHT COLORS!  RED: Godspell; ORANGE: Lysistrata Jones; YELLOW: The Lion King  You couldn't help but notice them even in a tight 44th Street crowd or the sensory overload of Times Square.  The yellow beacon of The Lion King's booth tent... the orange sign, pom poms and basketballs of Lysistrata Jones brought life, and crowds to their simple booth, and the bright red of the t-shirts and hats of the street team, passing out fliers, and again on the cast members at their booth.
• Best Mini-Trend: Balls.  Yes, balls.  Both Lombardi and Lysistrata Jones had balls - foot and basket, respectively.  And what fun... squeezey stress relievers and fun bath toys both!
• Best Connection:  The cast and crew of Lysistrata Jones!  They did what all the best do: reach out and relate.  Not only did they cheer on every single brave soul who tried to win tickets by shooting baskets, but they took time to chat and laugh with anyone who wanted to.  Patti Murin and Teddy Toye are the very picture of grace, warmth and enthusiasm... their attitude alone would make me want to buy tickets.  (And I would have bought them then and there, but I already have them!)

• Best Freebies:  The free tattoos from Godspell and the free pom poms from Lysistrata Jones.  Free is great, even at a fund raiser, but these accomplished much more.  Every time a smiling face walked by with that show logo on it, I thought of Godspell, and every time I saw someone carrying one, or saw one left behind at another table, or even the two or three I saw on the street, the bright orange and the fun, fizzy plastic reminded me of Miss Jones and her jock friends!  (This show will go miles in bridging the gap between the jocks and the drama geeks!)
• Best High End Memorabilia: The goods at the War Horse booth.  Not just signed Playbills and posters, but unique magnets featuring all of the puppeteers, and beautiful sketches of the set, mounted and autographed.
• Best Memorabilia for the Everyday Masses: $1.00 posters at the Triton Gallery booth, $3 posters at the ITS booth, $10 dollar posters at The Book of Mormon table.  A savvy, patient shopper can find some real bargains... TIP FOR NEXT YEAR: Go back several times to the Triton Gallery booth.  The stock is constantly changing.
• Best Personal Find:  A mint condition Chicago window card featuring Sandy Duncan!  An actual board poster is probably very expensive, and only a photo reproduction of it is available from Triton Gallery for just $75!  My actual poster, sans flaws? $3.00!!!

My final haul: a Lombardi ball: $1.00; window cards: Lombardi: $1, Chicago:$3, Broadway Bares 19.0: $5, and a pristine Anything Goes: $10.00; a Sweeney Todd (LuPone/Cerveris) CD sampler $1, Lysistrata Jones pom pom: FREE.  $21.00 for a bounty of stuff I love and can't get anywhere else.  Not bad!

I am really looking forward to next year's event already.  And all shows should take note of the two shows who really stood out, Godspell and Lysistrata Jones.  And just think, neither of those shows have even opened yet!  I can only imagine how great those shows will be...

Rate this blog below and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me!
Jeff
3.029

The 25th Annual Broadway Flea Market

Tomorrow, probably my favorite theatre charity event of the year takes place, the Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction.  And this year marks the event's 25th year! 

It takes place on W. 44th Street (home to The Phantom of the Opera, Memphis, Rock of Ages, and soon, Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and will "spill out into Times Square."  The event will take place light drizzle or shine on Sunday, September 25 from 10AM - 7PM.

The Flea Market features booths from most of the Broadway shows, selling everything from home made baked goods to posters to props actually used in the show.  Other booths sell vintage souvenirs, one of a kind photos, and long out of print cast recordings on vinyl, cassette and CD.  The array of things would be impossible to list here.  But the best thing is that you don't have to be rich to find something from your favorite shows - items start at under $1, and the later it goes, the better the bargains!

The Wicked booth and Memphis stars Montego Glover and Chad Kimball

sign autographs at last year's flea market

For slightly more money, you can pay to go through the photo booth and have your picture taken with today's biggest Broadway and daytime TV stars.  Or you can pay a flat fee and get autographs from your favorite celebs as you walk the autograph line.  There are usually three or four sets of stars, and you pay each time you walk through.  But it is a chance to say hi and get signatures from almost 100 stars!

The Grand Auction

But if you do have extra cash and really want to contribute to the cause, there is the Grand Auction, where you can bid on huge prize packs from all the shows, one of a kind personalized items from Broadway legends like Bernadette Peters and Angela Lansbury.  Several shows are auctioning off walk on parts and backstage experiences.

If you've never been before, you really should try it.  It has become an annual tradition for Mike, a close friend of ours, and I.  We get there bright and early and check out all the tables before we buy anything Sometimes you can find the same thing, only cheaper, at different booths.  And we have also found that we've purchased an item we liked, only to find something we've LOVED later, but couldn't afford it or carry it!  Then we grab a quick bite and head off to a big Broadway show.  So far, it has always been a show we are re-visiting, or that one of the three of us somehow missed.  Previously, it's been The Lion King and Wicked.  I'll tell you all about it early next week!

There are always huge crowds of theatre lovers!

For more information, including pre-bids for auction items, a full list of celebrity autographs and times, as well as a look at the tables and auction items go to http://www.broadwaycares.org/home.


Rate this blog below and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
3.026

Bags Full of Fleas!

Rain and even the threat of a shut down couldn't keep the 23rd Annual BCEFA Broadway Flea Market from happening. This news is old - the rain forced organizers to move everything into the Roseland Ballroom. Huge as it is, it is much smaller than Shubert Alley and 44th Street. And the rain did not deter throngs from showing up. At one point it was so crowded, the fire department had to step in and evacuate the building, then apparently made arrangements for more orderly counting of patrons and limiting access. That limited access didn't stop the shopping as the event made well over $400K! Congrats to all involved.

All the show tables had great stuff for sale... lots of signed production photos and posters and the like. And some has some REAL bargains. The Little Mermaid table had high quality T-shirts, opening night Playbills in mint condition and stacks of autographed stuff - everything for $1.00! Added the Playbill to my collection... Avenue Q had a great deal for $20.00: your choice of a signed poster (Kate Monster, Trekkie, etc.) + a huge button, a Playbill and another souvenir of your choice! I think Wicked and Billy Elliot, the new reigning champ at the B.O. were vying for classiest booths with some amazing memorabilia for real fans of each show.

The best non-show booths to me were the Playbill booth, which at the time I was there, had everything for $1.00. So I got a Wicked 5th Anniversary Playbill, a closing night RENT Playbill, and the newest window card featuring every Playbill of the past season. On their own website, each of those Playbills are $15.00 and the poster is $20.00! I saved $47.00, not including shipping and handling. And I took my purchases right to the next best booth - Triton Gallery, and got the poster framed for $20.00! Plus I got a Doubt poster for my collection - it looks to be i mint condition for $1.00! If I got these from their own website, it would have cost me $60.00, plus shipping and handling! I ended up with over $110.00 worth of collectibles for $24.00. AND it is all for charity!

HINT FOR NEXT YEAR: Go later! The deals are even better!

Did you go? Tell us about it!

Jeff

Friday's Bits and Pieces for 09.11.09

Another Friday, though, of course, this one feels just a bit heavier than most others, what with the 8th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Hard to believe it was that long ago; sometimes it feels like just yesterday.

NO COMEDY TONIGHT

I hope I don't have to start each Friday with a piece about the death of another theatre star. Sadly, this afternoon, the passing of Tony winner Larry Gelbart was announced. He is probably best known to most of the world for writing M*A*S*H, but for theatre fans his contributions to the musical comedy canon will be felt for decades to come. The man knew how to keep good company, and how to pick excellent projects - he worked with Stephen Sondheim on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and with the late, great Cy Coleman on City of Angels. Both shows won Tonys for Best Musical, and both won Gelbart well-deserved Tonys. Forum is pretty much a staple, but don't miss it - it is a riot of the bawdy, clever kind; Angels is rarely produced, probably because it would be tricky to pull off budget and score-wise (it is sharp jazz through and through), but if it ever plays nearby, GO SEE IT! It is smart, witty and hilarious. And, arguably, one of the best Best Books of a Musical ever.

WHAT IS IN MY iPOD THIS WEEK

People ask me what I listen to on my iPod at work. They always scrunch up their noses in distaste, but always smile after because they can tell I love it so much. If they asked me this week, I'd say:

TOP 3 COMPLETE CAST RECORDINGS

(meaning I listen to the whole thing through, time permitting):

1. next to normal


2. West Side Story - The New Broadway Cast Recording


3. Billy Elliot

TOP 5 CAST RECORDING SINGLES

(meaning I listen to these tracks over and over):

1. "Superboy and the Invisible Girl" from next to normal


2. "Around Here" from 9 to 5: The Musical


3. "Will-a-Mania" from The Will Rogers Follies


4. "Dance at the Gym" from West Side Story


5. "Who's Crazy?/My Psychopharmacologist and I" from next to normal
   

My co-workers can always tell when the last one is on... apparently, I sing the backup vocals aloud...loudly...

BCEFA FLEA MARKET

Mark this on your calendars: When: Sunday, September 27th Where: Shubert Alley and 44th Street What: The Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Broadway Flea Market

If you've never been to this event, you really need to go - this year will be my third. It is a chance to mingle with real theatre fans for impromptu discussions on everything from the Best/Worst Elphaba to why In My Life is the BEST MUSICAL EVER! Then there are the events themselves, all for a good cause. Lots of money? Try the silent auction for really awesome items - past years have included autographed theatre advertisements that actually hung outside a theatre, like the one from Deuce signed by Angela Lansbury and Marian Seldes, to walk on parts in Phantom, and seriously one of a kind props, like Whoopi Goldberg's roller costume and Kerry Butler's skates from Xanadu. Expensive, but priceless and all charitable! Not a lot to throw away this year, but still want the good stuff? Pay to walk through the autograph line and get as many autographs from the stars that are there. I think there are three sets of stars this year, including Broadway stars from current shows, Broadway legends and even some super nice soap stars (Van Hansis from As the World Turns is on my list this year!). Still only a few dollars to spend or maybe some saved up allowance? The flea market is the place to shop! Merchandise from closed shows for SUPER CHEAP, old Playbills for sale, costume pieces and props (last year they had shirts from Jersey Boys, prop hairspray cans from Hairspray, naturally), and great bargains... last year for a grand total of $8.00, I got a Beauty and the Beast farewell poster ($2.00), a Tarzan Christmas ornament ($3.00), a Grey Gardens note pad (2 for $1.00), and 10 that's TEN soda cups with lids from The Times They Are A-Changin' - I sold 1 on e-Bay for $15.00... (10 for $1.00) and my best purchase - a Lion King sweatshirt from the tour for $1.00!!!

It is a fun event, especially getting to chat with the stars of your favorite shows as they sell you cupcakes and fun show stuff. The entire cast of [title of show] couldn't be nicer, John Tartaglia is the most kind gentleman, and Tyne Daly is a HOOT! I can't wait to see who's here this year! For details go to http://www.bcefa.org/.

Drop me a line if you go! I'd love to hear about the treasures you find and cool folks you meet!

SPIDEY UPDATE

I just know that announcement I talked about previously is coming... they are probably handling the billing as we speak, and probably finding a Disney Channel star to be the title man! Meanwhile, the "semi-on-hold" production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark announced that the opening date hasn't changed (I bet it will...) BUT that tickets will officially go on sale October 31st. Shows that aren't happening aren't usually in the news weekly. They have one hell of a publicist!

Jeff

(Photos: Larry Gelbart by Ryan Miller of Playbill Online and Flea Market Poster from the BCEFA website.)