Broadway Bears, the annual fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that celebrated its tenth anniversary Feb. 11, brought in $130,000 for the charitable organization.

Broadway Bears 10, which was held at B. B. King Blues Club & Grill, was hosted by Broadway favorite Bryan Batt. Top bids were for the Mary Poppins ($8,000) and The Phantom of the Opera ($6,500) bears. The Poppins bear was signed by both Julie Andrews, who starred in the classic film, and Ashley Brown, who heads the cast of the Broadway musical. Sandra Joseph and Hal Prince signed the Phantom bear.

The Chorus Line bears (17 small bears in total) brought in $6,000 and were signed by the entire cast of the musical revival.

The yearly event features a host of teddy bears dressed as famous Broadway characters, many autographed by the original stars who wore the original (human-sized) outfits. Lorna Kelly was the evening's auctioneer.

Since its inception in 1998, Broadway Bears has raised over $1.35 million dollars for BC/EFA. Among the 40 bears auctioned this year included bears dressed as characters from Jersey Boys, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, The Drowsy Chaperone, Grey Gardens, Wicked, The Color Purple, Sweeney Todd, The Boy From Oz, The Pajama Game and
Mary Poppins.

For more information about Broadway Bears 10 or Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, visit the BC/EFA website at www.broadwaycares.org.