Broadway Cares' six-week Spring Fundraising Campaign, which began March 18 and continued through May 1, brought in $4,288,994, which will provide meals, medication, health care, and more for those living with HIV/AIDS, dealing with COVID-19, or facing other debilitating illnesses.
Broadway’s The Music Man raised $2,071,806, setting an all-time record in a single campaign for any show in Broadway Cares history. The Broadway revival reached that total through post-show auctions of Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster-signed memorabilia, led by cast members Nicholas Ward and Ann Sanders.
Broadway Cares’ traditional in-theatre red bucket fundraising, which had been absent from theatres since March 2020 due to the pandemic, returned with 40 Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring productions raising funds. Participating Broadway companies included Aladdin, American Buffalo, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Come From Away, Company, Dear Evan Hansen, Encores! The Life, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King, MJ, Mrs. Doubtfire, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, Plaza Suite, Six, Take Me Out, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and Wicked.
Off-Broadway productions of Jersey Boys, Little Girl Blue, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Play That Goes Wrong also rallied support through audience appeals, while participating national tours included Hamilton, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Band’s Visit, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Hadestown, The Lion King, Mean Girls, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
“Audiences and shows alike greeted the careful and strategic return this spring to a full fundraising campaign with such enthusiasm,” Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said. “Throughout the six weeks, productions graciously joined in the effort. In addition to extraordinary cast support, we extend our sincere thanks to theatre owners and producers, and, most especially, to the stage managers who steered efforts behind the scenes and to all onstage, backstage, and front of house who made our return to in-theatre fundraising such a success. Their efforts ensure our grant-making can continue this summer reaching hundreds of organizations nationwide.”
The lobby buckets were held by more than 200 masked and vaccinated Broadway Cares volunteers and staff. Traditionally, cast members also appear at the exits, but COVID safety measures prevented that interaction.
Spring Fundraising Campaign totals follow:
All-Time Record-Breaking Champion
The Music Man: $2,071,806
2022 Spring Fundraising Campaign Leaders
Broadway Musicals
Top Fundraiser: Hamilton - $283,551
1st Runner-up: Wicked - $228,181
2nd Runner-up: The Lion King - $158,001
3rd Runner-up: Hadestown - $146,701
Broadway Plays
Top Fundraiser: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - $57,636
1st Runner-up: Plaza Suite - $25,583
Off-Broadway Plays and Musicals
Top Fundraiser: Little Shop of Horrors - $37,965
1st Runner-up: The Play That Goes Wrong - $35,485
13 national touring productions raised $152,344.
The annual Easter Bonnet Competition will return in 2023.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and other critical illnesses across the United States.
