Mitchell On 'BARES' Strip-A-Thon

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the Broadway Bear stage, Mr. Jerry Mitchell! No

The second history of Broadway Bears. Dancing naked, on a drum, Palace Theatre

Will Rogers Follies, somebody says do it for charity. I go to Splash with six other guys who are on Broadway shows

We dance naked, we make $8,000, I say I can do this better, I add girls, we make $17,000, I say I can do this better

I'll add a theme, cut to Broadway Bears 18 last year, 865,000. This is a really tough year, tough economy. I don't know if we'll top it, but you know it's really not only about raising the money

It's about putting the word out there and continuing to push positive

Safe sex and and feeling good about life and living. That's what Broadway Beers is about

I was the kid who always went around the neighborhood with the fishbowl for the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon

I thought what if we opened up the possibility to get involved with Broadway Bears to everyone who a fan who may not be able to come to the show but could help us raise money through global outreach now with the internet And so with your guys help we going to do that this year We going to open the

strip-a-thon to anybody and everybody who wants to raise money for Broadway Cares. And if they raise a lot of money, they're going to win prizes

It's exciting, again, it's that community thing about people who love Broadway

people who love Broadway performers, people who believe in helping. This is a

a chance for them to get involved. Timonet crickets, Timonet jacks, you make my heart go clickety clack

Tweetly, tweetly, tweetly, tweetly. Everyone in the theater has a heart of gold

We're a great community and taking care of our own. So, but we've done such a good job, we've been able to extend that to the world

I mean, Broadway Cares actually sends money all over the world and sends it back into the communities where it's needed most

And that's why Broadway Bears and Broadway Cares is so vital and our existence is so necessary even today

It was such a learning experience for me to be able to conceive direct and choreograph an event like this and watch it grow and continue to nurture it and having the best dancers the best designers the best crew people all volunteering It a win for everyone

Celebrities who have heard about the show start calling and expressing their interest

if they know they're going to be in town and they're going to be around during the Broadway period

You know, Chris Siebert has always been there, Jen Cody, David Hyde Pierce

these people are always a big part of Broadway Bears. Nathan Lane, they've always supported the event and I'm indebted to them for giving their stardom

and their support to such a sexy, risky, fun night. Both of you are so lovely

I hate to be rude, but I must run. I can't chat. I'm looking for a queen

Do you know where I can find a queen? I have looked in vain

I cannot find her. Well, throw a rocket, you'll hit one. Yeah

In the very beginning, I used to pick up the phone and call everyone. First three Broadway Bears, first four or five

I had to call everyone. After about the fifth or sixth Broadway Bears

I had to hang up my phone We had over 300 people dancers apply to be in the show this year And we kind of cap it off around the 200 mark just because we can fit anymore backstage

and make that many costumes for one night. So, of course, equity performers and people in shows get top priority

and then we go down the list and pass performers. It's unbelievable to see how 200-plus people, now those are just the performers

Then you've got all the hair designers, the costumes, the makeup, people all working

Everybody is happy. I believe that, you know, if you are there for the right reason

you're there to have a ball and to raise a lot of money and nothing else really matters

Are we ready? Are we ready, everyone? DJ, if you please, let's start rotating

Rotate! Alright, let's start the music

Pump it up high! Ladies and gentlemen, these dancers have volunteered their time and energy

And they've been naked all night for you! Let's see some cash. We want to see $100 bills, $50 bills, $20s

If you tip a dollar, that's just plain pathetic. Let's go! Click it, people

If you sign up for Broadway Bears and you raise money, and I see your site

I'll click it and I'll donate. Come on, get involved