The 33rd edition of “Broadway Bares” raised a record $2,447,967 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The burlesque– and striptease-themed event offered two performances on June 22 at Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. The Oz-inspired event, which was produced by and benefitted Broadway Cares, was dubbed “Come Out, Come Out.”
Included in the aforementioned $2.4 million total is a record $1,240,928 raised via Stripathon, an online fundraising competition for the production’s cast and crew that leads up to the performances. Dancer and “Bares” veteran Mark MacKillop raised $277,500, the most of any individual in the history of the fundraiser. Jennifer Geller ($52,607) was the first runner-up fundraiser, followed by Steve Bratton ($32,765), Katie Thrasher ($32,765) and Michael Pugliese ($29,405).
Directed by Kellen Stancil and featuring a book written by Hunter Bell, Steven Cutts and Troy Britton Johnson, the story of “Come Out, Come Out” followed Dante (“The Lion King”’s Bradley Gibson) as he traveled down Oz’s yellow brick road. Along the way, Dante enjoyed routines and appearances by Tony Award winners André De Shields, J. Harrison Ghee, Jak Malone and Alex Newell, as well as Todrick Hall, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Lesli Margherita, Peppermint and Jesse Corbin. Various production numbers were choreographed by Mike Baerga, Marie Rose Baramo, Savannah Cobb, Phil Colgan, Billy Griffin, Reed Luplau, Sarah Meahl, Justice Moore, Rachelle Rak, Stancil, Michael Anthony Sylvester and Marcus Williams, while two songs featured separate aerial choreography John Bitley and David Isaac Gray.
The 2025 best actress in a musical Tony winner and former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger surprised audiences, offering a rendition of the pop group’s hit song “Buttons.”
Christian Mitchell, executive director of global artist relations for presenting sponsor Mac Cosmetics, delivered “Bares” creator and executive producer Jerry Mitchell with a $200,000 check from Mac Viva Glam, which has donated a total $5.2 million to Broadway Cares throughout the years.
The “Come Out, Come Out” company comprised 234 dances from 20 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, including “& Juliet,” “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” “Death Becomes Her,” “Drag: The Musical,” “Gypsy,” “Hadestown,” “Hamilton,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Just in Time,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “Smash,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Tammy Faye,” “The Great Gatsby,” “The Lion King,” “The Outsiders” and “Wicked.”
Paula DeLuise served as associate director, while the aforementioned Cobb was the show’s assistant director.
The backstage team was led by production stage manager Johnny Milani with Sarah Helgesen and Kassi Wilson, who shepherded a team of 56 stage managers with more than 600 volunteers.
The design team included scenic designer Jason Lee Courson, lighting designer Joel Shier, sound designers Nick Borisjuk and Daniel Lundberg, costume coordinator Jeffrey Wallach, hair and wig designer Kenneth Griffin, makeup designer Cesar Silva and video content producer Caite Hevner.
Since its creation in 1992, “Broadway Bares” has raised $31.1 million for Broadway Cares, which provides access to medications, counseling, housing and other services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. The 2024 iteration of “Bares” alone raised $2.26 million.
In addition to presenting sponsor Mac Viva Glam, “Bares” lead corporate sponsors include United Airlines, Viiv Healthcare and the Westin New York at Times Square.
