Gypsy of the Year Raises $2,972,721 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

Fifty-nine participating Broadway, off-Broadway and national tour companies raised $2,972,721 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in the last six weeks. The whopping grand total, over $200,000 higher than last year, was announced December 6 at the 17th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Spamalot brought in the most money of any show with $367,083. The runner-up in terms of fundraising was Wicked, which raised $221,298, well above The Lion King's $137,118 tally. The Broadway play that took in the most was Tony winner Doubt with $105,715. Off-Broadway's highest fundraiser was The Great American Trailer Park Musical, which staged a large auction at their final performance on December 4, with $34,600.

Of course, Gypsy of the Year is about more than money--it is a chance for Broadway's chorus folks to strut their stuff. This year the show was hosted by The Odd Couple's Brad Garrett and Lee Wilkof and featured numerous performances. The Lion King won the award for Best Performance again, while Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was runner-up for their number.

This year's celebrity judges included Bryan Batt, Souvenir star Judy Kaye, producer Hal Luftig and Andrea McArdle. Spamalot's Tim Curry, Fiddler on the Roof's Harvey Fierstein and Sweeney Todd's Patti LuPone joined the hosts onstage for the awards presentation.