Video: Check Out The Sexy Highlights From 'Broadway Bares 2019'

Cast members of 'Broadway Bares: Take Off'
(photo: Billy Bustamante) 

Broadway’s sexiest event of the year, Broadway Bares, offered a spectacular romp around the world this past weekend, and we’ve got the video to prove it.

Over two performances at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City Sunday night, Broadway’s hottest dancers raised a record-breaking $2+ million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Thanks to BC/EFA, men, women and children across the country receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance.

This year’s theme, Broadway Bares: Take Off, featured nearly 200 performers onstage including Tony & Grammy Award winner Billy Porter, two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber, GLEE alum Alex Newell and Grammy/Tony nominee Ashley Park.

Check out the highlights reel:

The travel theme allowed the creators to take the audience on a sexy, sensual, fun-filled trip around the world.

One number, titled “Ground Crew,” showed what happens when a flight is delayed on the tarmac and the all-male ground crew has to sweat through their shift.

Led by Adam Perry, the number (choreographed by Andrew Turteltaub) featured buff baggage handlers taking care of business.

Other highlights included a sexy ‘mile-high club’ number; an all-female excursion through Amsterdam’s Red Light district; and a Parisian fashion show led by Pose star Billy Porter that evolved into a vogueing battle.

With this year being the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the show’s travels ended (where else?) with a performance set in the historic Stonewall Inn.

Porter also returned at the end of the show to perform his new Pride anthem, “Love Yourself.”

Addressing the packed crowd, Porter spoke passionately of “community” and “unbowed determination.”

“Broadway Bares is about the joy of community, the love we share and the care we show for each other,” said the Tony Award winning actor. “These are both glorious and difficult days. We have so much to celebrate and be proud of. But at the same time we are surely shaken, angry and saddened by the cruelty, inequality and torrent of lies that confront us on a daily basis.”

“But as I look over this beautiful audience and see thousands standing together, unbowed, we will not be dismissed or demeaned. For we are empowered by love, determination and courage,” he continued. “We will not be stigmatized for the very things that make us beautiful, expressive beings.”

And yes, it does take a village. In addition to the 200 onstage performers, backstage there were 41 stage managers and 700 volunteers, including 70 MAC makeup artists, all helping to make the magic.

With 29 editions of the ‘striptacular’ event now on the books, Broadway Bares has raised an amazing $21.1 million for BC/EFA.

Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $300 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses.

Just to give you a sense of how massive the event is, here’s a clip from the finale via Broadway Bares creator, Tony Award winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell:

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This is what happens “When LOVE takes over”! #broadwaybares29 TakeOff 2,006.192$$$ #fullout #whatwedotogethermakesadifference #whenlovetakesover #pride

A post shared by Jerry Mitchell (@jammyprod) on Jun 19, 2019 at 3:18am PDT

Get Ready To 'Take Off' With Broadway Bares 2019

Audiences for this year’s globetrotting edition of Broadway Bares will get to travel the world and check out the sexy sights when New York City’s hottest dancers take to the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 16 for two amazing performances.

Broadway Bares: Take Off, the 29th edition of the sexy annual fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will offer sky-high striptease set to today’s pop music. With skin-tastic, travel-inspired modern burlesque, Broadway Bares: Take Off will definitely put the lust in wanderlust.

According to press materials, this worldwide romp will feature dance vignettes “from a risqué red light district to a tantalizing taming of the bull; from a mega-hot Burning Man to a celebratory return to Stonewall, you’re invited on a worldwide romp with sexy dancers as your frisky flight crew, tour guides and cultural attachés.”

Created in 1992 by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray, The Full Monty), the soon-to-be Broadway director/choreographer invited six friends to join him for a night of go-go dancing at a New York City bar. That evening raised over $8,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Fast forward to 2018, where Broadway Bares: Game Night, a tantalizing twist on board games, raised a whopping $1.875 million. The 28 editions of Broadway Bares has raised more than $19.1 million.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDSis the major supporter of essential social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.

The two performances of Broadway Bares: Take Off are scheduled for 9:30pm and midnight. The evening is guaranteed to be some of the most fun you’ll have on a Sunday night, so get your tickets now.

Note - the shows do sell out.

For ticket info click here. Check out highlights from recent editions of Broadway Bares below.

'Broadway Bares: Game Night' Raises $1.8 Million For Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

'Broadway Bares: Game Night' (photo: Evan Zimmerman)

The annual fundraiser Broadway Bares crushed it once again Sunday night as Broadway's hottest dancers and the production crew came together to raise funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The dancers and choreographers have spent weeks not only learning and perfecting the scintillating numbers performed last night but campaigning online for donations.

BroadwayBares: Game Night, this year’s record-breaking edition of the annual spectacular, featured sexy, titillating production production numbers based on your favorite board games for two late night performances.

The cast of 'Broadway Bares: Game Night' play Battleship (screen capture)

Directed by Nick Kenkel, the show featured sexy riffs on games like Battleship, Pictionary ("Striptionary"), Candy Land, Operation, Old Maid (who proved she was anything but), and more.

Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Bares: Game Night raised $1,875,090 with two standing-room-only performances on Sunday, June 17, 2018, at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom.

The Boys in the Band’s Matt Bomer, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Michael Benjamin Washington and Tuc Watkins appeared in a special trivia game sketch.

Charlie Carver of 'The Boys in the Band (screen capture)'

For each wrong answer, young Charlie had to remove an article of clothing until the penultimate moment when Zach Quinto ripped off Carver's thong to screams from the packed-house.

Congrats to Tom Viola of Broadway Cares and Tony Award winner and creator of Broadway Bares, Jerry Mitchell, on another incredible night to help others!

Watch a few highlights below.

Original Creative Team To Reunite For HAIRSPRAY Live! on NBC

Good news for Broadway musical lovers! The original creative team for HAIRSPRAY will reunite for the upcoming December 7 airing of the Broadway tuner on NBC

Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who produced the 2007 movie-musical version of Hairspray, will produce the live television edition.

The Wiz Live director Kenny Leon will take the helm for Hairspray.

Jerry Mitchell will repeat his duties from the Broadway mounting as choreographer.

Harvey Fierstein, who played Edna in the stage show, will adapt the script.

Original Hairspray composer-lyricists Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman are also on the team for the live work.

I'm especially glad to see Jerry Mitchell return to the show. While the movie had it's moments, I missed his clever, energetic choreography.

Tony Award-Winner Billy Porter Takes His Final Bow In KINKY BOOTS

Billy Porter's final bow as Lola. We will always hold him in our hearts! ✨
Posted by Kinky Boots on Broadway on Friday, November 20, 2015

Regular readers of The Randy Report will remember when I interviewed Billy Porter (who I've known for over 20 years) for The Candi & Randy Show back in the summer of 2012 when I was choreographing a production of Sweet Charity in Oklahoma and Billy was appearing as our "Daddy Brubeck."

Billy had just finished the first workshop of Kinky Boots and was headed to Chicago for the out-of-town tryout. He knew then the possibility that was ahead.

You can listen to the interview below.

Congrats Billy on a triumphant run! xoxo

Cult Classic CAMP To Get Sequel Featuring Patti LuPone and Donna Murphy

Todd Graff, director of the indie hit film CAMP, has launched a new website that shares the big news - there will be a sequel titled, CAMP 2: FREAKS OF NATURE!

"In 2003, I was able to bring to life the story of a group of hilarious, talented, needy, at times psychopathic, and occasionally cross-dressing kids attending Camp Ovation. CAMP triumphantly premiered in Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, played all over the world, and thanks to many of you reading this, became a cult classic. I had so much fun making CAMP - filming on location at Stagedoor Manor in New York, casting Stephen Sondheim for his only movie appearance in history, and of course, introducing Anna Kendrick in her very first film, as a murderous understudy who poisons the star and belts out 'The Ladies Who Lunch'.

"We need a sequel! And I've already written it. Don't worry, the original stars are not playing counselors or some other lame device. Instead, we're going meta! Plus we're going to introduce some fabulous new additions, like Donna Murphy, Patti LuPone and a bevy of other reigning Broadway divas performing a demented version of 'Steppin' To The Bad Side' from 'Dreamgirls,' to be staged by the one and only Jerry Mitchell."

"I can't wait to share what I have planned, but I need your help to make this dream a reality. So we're going straight to YOU to fund this film."

The original film followed a group of misfits who find themselves while attending a musical theater summer camp.

(h/t BroadwayWorld)

Broadway Bares 25th Anniversary: "Top Bottoms Of Burlesque"

This morning, Broadway Bares revealed the theme of this year's extravaganza - "Top Bottoms Of Burlesque."

This year marks the 25th edition of the always sold-out fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and the return of creator and 2-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell to the helm.

The 2015 edition will fill NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom on Sunday, June 21.

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.

Uber-sexy teaser video below. Click here for more info.

Tony Award Winner Jerry Mitchell Returns To Broadway Bares For 25th Anniverary

Clip description: Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell returns to Broadway Bares as director for the scintillating and titillating 25th celebratory edition of Broadway Bares, the annual charity event which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Tonight in NYC - "Broadway Bares 23: United Stripes of America"

Broadway's sexiest night of the year has arrived: The 23rd annual edition of Broadway Bares, entitled Broadway Bares 23: United Strips of America, is presented at Roseland Ballroom June 23 at 9:30 PM and midnight to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

United Strips of America, according to press notes, "celebrates America's fruited plains and mountains majesties. A bi-coastal couple will set out on separate, sexy journeys through a dozen states – encountering scantily clad inhabitants along the way – in hopes of reuniting in the heartland." Max von Essen (Evita) and Michael Cusumano (Chicago) appear throughout the show as the couple. Guest stars also include two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles), 2013 Tony nominee Charl Brown (Motown The Musical), Lesli Margherita (Matilda The Musical), Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages) and Eric LaJuan Summers (Motown The Musical).

Roseland Ballroom is located at 239 West 52nd Street. Although the 9:30 PM show is sold out, tickets for the midnight show can be purchased online at broadwaycares.org or by calling (212) 840-0770, ext 268. A limited number of tickets also may be available between 3 PM and 7 PM June 23 in the lobby of Roseland Ballroom.

Through 22 editions, Broadway Bares has raised more than $9.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

(via Playbill)

Finale of KINKY BOOTS on The Today Show

Actor Billy Porter talks about his best actor Tony win and joins his fellow “Kinky Boots” cast mates for a performance of the finale number of the show, which won six Tony awards.

Drag queens and folks in thigh-high, high heel boots. One Million Moms will be writing a letter in 3, 2, 1...

"Change your mind and you change the world."

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

"Girls Just Want To Have Fun" (New York Version 2013)

Fun! Everybody say "Yeah!" And get down to see KINKY BOOTS on the Broad-Way!

So many folks in this video: Mika Brzezinski, Katie Couric, the cast of Kinky Boots, Kathie Lee Gifford, Whoopi Goldberg, Samantha Hill, Hoda Kotb, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelly Ripa and many many more.

The video commemorates the 30th anniversary of Lauper's chart topping hit.

Congrats to Cyndi Lauper for her long, long, fab career AND her big fat Broadway hit, KINKY BOOTS!

Kathie Lee and Hoda from The Today Show

Kelly Ripa

Mika Brzezinski

Whoopi Goldberg

Broadway: Original Cast recording of KINKY BOOTS coming May 28th

Kinky Boots opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4, 2013 to RAVE reviews, and now the Original Broadway Cast Recording is coming!

In case you've missed a beat - USA Today called the show “a sizzling, high-spirited new musical that’s bound to put cheer in your heart!” KINKY BOOTS has also been chosen as the critic’s pick by The New York Times, New York magazine and Time Out New York, as well as Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List.”

In Kinky Boots, Charlie Price (Tony® Award nominee Stark Sands) has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola (Billy Porter). A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax motion picture, Kinky Boots features a book by four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage, Torch Song Trilogy, Newsies) and a musical score from Grammy® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper. The production is directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, La Cage, Broadway Bares), with music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Stephen Oremus (Book of Mormon, Wicked).

bad iPhone pic of me with the fab Billy Porter backstage at KINKY BOOTS on Broadway

I was recently in NYC and had the chance to see what the much-deserved ballyhoo is all about. And all of it is true. Tony® Award nominees Stark Sands and Billy Porter lead a cast of thirty-two that left me breathless and exhilarated. It's truly "must-see" theatre.

On a personal note, I've known Billy Porter (nominated for every award he can be this season) for 20 years, and it's oh-so-very gratifying to watch his work be oh-so-celebrated at this point of his already fab career.

You can purchase the CD or download at Amazon.

You can download on iTunes by clicking here.

Follow KINKY BOOTS on Facebook here.

Sneak peek at Broadway Bares 23

From the YouTube description: Broadway Bares, the unrivaled evening of sexy striptease that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will return for its 23rd edition on Sunday, June 23, 2013.

This year's theme will be announced on Thursday, March 28 at broadwaybares.com and broadwaycares.org.

This always sold-out annual event combines the naughtiness of burlesque and the razzle-dazzle of Broadway. More than 200 of the hottest male and female dancers in New York City take to the stage for two sensational shows at 9:30 pm and midnight.

Previewing the upcoming Broadway Bares 2013 season

Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell's fun and fab fund-raising event shares this one minute video previewing upcoming Broadway Bares events.

 If you haven't been to Broadway Bares, you're seriously missing out on a lot of fun. And all monies raised goes to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Upcoming Broadway Bares:
Las Vegas hits Sin City - April 20
Broadway Bares: Solo Strips - returns to XL Nightclub on May 5
Broadway Bares: Fire Island - in the Pines on June 1
Season Grand Finale - Broadway Bares 23 - Roseland Ballroom for two spectacular performances on June 23

For more information and tickets, visit broadwaycares.org.

Broadway-bound Kinky Boots opens in Chicago

Kinky Boots, the new musical by Cyndi Lauper & Harvey Fierstein, opened last night at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, the show appears to be headed in the right direction as Chicago gives the creators the opportunity to fine tune the piece.

A couple of the reviews from opening night:

Hedy Weiss, Sun-Times: While no one would mistake this new musical, which celebrated its pre-Broadway opening Wednesday night at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre, as groundbreaking in any way, it is an ideally crafted, altogether feel-good show — something of a “La Cage aux Folles” for the recession-plagued, anti-bullying, “it WILL get better” generation. And its solid if predictable storytelling (Harvey Fierstein’s take on the popular little British film comedy of 2005), its accomplished and varied score (an impressive first Broadway effort by Cyndi Lauper, that petite paragon of pop, who has penned several numbers that are sure to become keepers), its conveyor belt-smooth flow (courtesy of director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell), and its strong, winningly genuine cast, all conjoin to make it an engaging entertainment.

Michael Roberts, Showbiz Chicago: Kinky Boots has something unique going for it that will add to its success; that is Billy Porter...I would venture to say that Kinky Boots will do for Mr. Porter what Hello, Dolly did for Carol Channing, Funny Girl for Streisand; Phantom for Michael Crawford and Evita for Patti LuPone. This is will become a show and role that will be forever synonymous with Mr. Porter, and rightfully so...Alongside Mr. Porter is the equally engaging Stark Sands as Charlie Price. Though his character could stand a little more development in the second act, Sands has remarkable stage presence and chemistry with his co-star…The book for Kinky Boots is classic Harvey Fierstein, who always has the innate ability to create an environment where his characters can be bigger than life one minute, then intensely internal the next…The material at hand is perfect fodder for [Jerry] Mitchell to develop the environment to allow his actors to find their truth…A musical would be nothing without the music, and for this, Cyndi Lauper is a revelation...Not since Rent has there been a musical that is poised to have at least three numbers cross over to the pop charts.

Pictures via Broadway.com

Broadway! Video preview of "Kinky Boots"

Hey Broadway fans - here's your video preview of four songs from the upcoming Broadway musical "Kinky Boots" directed & choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, written by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, starring Billy Porter and Stark Sands.

Can. Not. Wait. To. See. This.

Behind the scenes at Broadway Bares XXII

I'm always so proud of dear Jerry Mitchell and his mind-blowing, super-successful annual fundraising event Broadway Bares.

As longtime readers of The Randy Report know, for most of my life I worked as an actor and dancer in Broadway musicals.  This community always has an important place in my heart for how much they give and give and give.

You want fun?  You want sexy?  And you want to help people all at the same time?  Have I got the event for you!

Go behind the scenes of the fairy tale photo shoot for Broadway Bares XXII: Happy Endings.

The hotly anticipated Broadway Bares will pay tribute to favorite childhood fairy tales as only the modern-day burlesque show could as this year's edition of the immensely popular event becomes Broadway Bares XXII: Happy Endings.

June 17th at Roseland Ballroom in New York City.  I promise you, it'll be the hottest - and I mean that every way I can - ticket in town.


Tickets can be purchased online at by clicking here or by calling 212.840.0770, ext 268.