Broadway Bears is an auction featuring a cuddly chorus line of one-of-a-kind teddy bears, each meticulously outfitted in original, handmade costumes by Broadway’s leading costume designers and representing memorable characters from plays and musicals, past and present.

The skill and imagination devoted to the creation of these coveted collectibles has been recognized worldwide, from The Museum of The City of New York – where 10 bear alumni reside as part of the permanent costume collection – to media acclaim as far away as England and Japan. In addition, noted designers such as Bob Mackie have created original bears for these auctions.

BC/EFA is very grateful to the creative and talented artists who designed, outfitted, costumed, draped, frocked, dressed, shod, hatted, painted, armored, tattooed, stuffed, “lipoed,” wigged, bejeweled and feathered the Broadway Bears – and in doing so created truly one-of-a-kind, museum-quality pieces for auction. BC/EFA is also indebted to The North American Bear Company for generously donating now hundreds of bears – each of which went out a bare bear and came back a star!

For more information: http://bcefa.org/, http://www.broadwaycares.org/

Gloria J. "Mimi" Winer has contributed bears to BC/EFA since 2004.

Broadway Bears 2004

MAME DENNIS
MAME
1966
Signed by: Angela Lansbury

She says she only rides sidesaddle (because, in fact, she doesn't ride at all) but Mame Dennis does at least know how to dress the part. And with her Yankee aplomb she becomes the toast of Southern society, who serenade her with the show's title song. The role of Mame won for Angela Lansbury the first of her four Tonys for Best Actress in a Musical (before Cabot Cove claimed her?). Angela Lansbeary has received an "extreme makeover" to achieve her willowy silhouette, and "ready for the foxhunt" is clad exactly like her Broadway counterpart. Her flared, black silk dupioni skirt falls just below the knee and is complemented by a fitted, black silk jacket, and white cotton blouse and ascot. The jacket is lined with black silk satin, and black velvet trims the stand-up collar, cuffs and accent pockets. It has wide, peaked lapels, and the graceful, open "v" neckline lets us see the blouse beneath (also the "diamond" stud in the knot of the ascot?). Beneath the skirt, she wears black silk panties, Lycra net stockings (with a surprise of their own!), and knee-high, high-heeled, black ultra-leather riding boots. Ms. Lansbeary's face has been needle-modeled, adding to her sweet expressiveness; and her head has been topped with a golden (mohair) ponytail and a brimmed, black silk hat with a hatband made of a silk chiffon scarf. It's no exaggeration to say that "[Her] special fascination'll prove to be inspirational; we think you're just sensational, Mame"!

ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGNER: ROBERT MACKINTOSH
BROADWAY BEAR CREATED BY: GLORIA J. "MIMI" WINER

Signed by: Angela Lansbury

Broadway Bears 2005

MUSETTA
LA BOHÈME
2002
Signed by: Catherine Martin and Baz Luhrman

Musetta (last name "Temptation") waltzes into Café Momus and steals (or breaks) the heart of every man in her wake. And what a swath she cuts in her fully lined, red silk couture ensemble, vintage 1957. The essence of "Fire and Ice" (a popular Revlon red of the period), Musetta Bear has been surgically elongated, giving her the height to best show off the two full yards of silk used to create this replica of her Broadway double. A formfitting sheath with a deeply plunging neckline, this basic style has been embellished with a wide, off-the shoulder (modified) shawl collar and, flaring from the hips, a very full overskirt, made even fuller by the black bridal-tulle petticoat beneath. Accentuating her tiny waist are buttons and bows. Accentuating her décolletage, a black lace bra. (She wears lace-trimmed black silk tap panties as well!). Seen in her characteristic pose, she wears long black gloves that extend above the elbow. She wears nylon stockings and leather-covered, stone clay shoes that are sculpted on her feet. (These are staying on!) Her beautiful face has been needle-modeled and lightly made up as well. And framing that face, a curly red wig. When Mimi comments to Rodolfo on how beautifully Musetta is dressed, he concurs, adding that "all the angels go naked." But we know the devilish Musetta proves herself to be very much divine!

ORIGINAL DESIGNER:
CATHERINE MARTIN AND ANGUS STRATHIE
BROADWAY BEAR CREATED BY: GLORIA J. "MIMI" WINER

Signed by: Catherine Martin and Baz Luhrman

Broadway Bears 2006

CAPTAIN BILLY BUCK CHANDLER
MY ONE AND ONLY
1983
Signed by:
Tommy Tune

Broadway Bears 2007

TARZAN
TARZAN
2006
Signed by:
Josh Strickland and
Phil Collins

Make way for the "buffest" bear to ever swing our way! Tarzan, the lord of the jungle, has been meticulously re-created to appear flying in mid-air through the trees by using the same nylon green cable used by the Broadway production's acrobatic monkeys and other assorted jungle inhabitants.  Copper wire was shaped into the vine and covered with the green cable, allowing it to act as a display stand as well. The harness and ring that holds him to the "vine" cable is hidden within his leather loin cloth and briefs, which are held up by a miniature leather utility belt. Knitted yarn was used for his blondish- mass of dreadlock hair. As for that muscular, ripped physique…well, let's just say our orange bear didn't do the jungle Atkins diet. Two orange bears were disassembled and re-cut, stitched and stuffed to look like the very physical and very gorgeous Josh Strickland. Who better than me to tell you that you'll be green with envy at whoever gets to keep this sexy bear.

ORIGINAL DESIGNER:   BOB CROWLEY
BROADWAY BEAR CREATED BY:  GLORIA J. "Mimi" WINER

Signed by:  Josh Strickland and Phil Collins

Broadway Bears 2008

Mr. Bojangles
FOSSE
1998
Signed by:
Ann Reinking

Broadway bears don't ordinarily come more buff (or built...) than this exquisiteIy sculpted example. Check out those pecs, those abs, those elbows, thighs, calves and buns, and, yes... that basket... Created from the skins of two un-stuffed bears, all but two or three tiny pieces were used to craft the beautifully (and enviably) proportioned Mr. Bearjangles. Wearing a deep v-cut, metallic charcoal "pleather" vest and dance tights of black Lycra, his light grey leg warmers are knitted cotton. As the lyric say, "...he danced for you in worn out shoes," and these dance shoes - soles included - were made from a 30-year-old dance slipper! His derby hat - a perfect fit - was sculpted from stone clay, gessoed, sanded and painted with several coats of black, then trimmed with a black ribbon band. Posed in character on a wooden dance floor, the sinewy, sensual Mr. B. would do any Fosse dancer proud!

ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGNER: SANTO LOQUASTO
BROADWAY BEAR CREATED BY: GLORIA J. "MIMI" WINER
With special thanks to: Jim Winer (creation of dance floor)

Signed by: Ann Reinking

Broadway Bears 2009

Bernardo
WEST SIDE STORY
1957
Signed by:
Ken Le Roy and
George Chakiris

Hell's Kitchen of the mid-1950s spawned street gangs that broke down on ethnic lines and that was the world of West Side Story - where the American Jets were in contention for turf and domination with the Puerto Rican Sharks. The leader of the Sharks - that was Bernardo. Knife-ready and always ready to rumble, it was best not to cross him. While Bearnardo captures the essence of this edgy character, he is still a teddy bear and will render you no harm! And you'll see he's been trimmed down and toned to execute that muscular and distinctive Robbins choreography! Lithe as he is, nearly two complete bear skins were used to create his elongated limbs. He's dressed in a black cotton-knit tee which is worn under his classic red-cotton men's shirt. The open collar shows off his "silver" neck chain, and the rolled cuffs his black leather wristband with its two miniature buckles. He wears tight black-cotton pants and a hand-made black-leather belt with a "silver" buckle. On his feet are black denim, white-edged tennis shoes - which allow him to dance up a storm in NYC's West 40s. Or here - on his asphalt-like base! The black locks on his head have been crafted from (dyed) Icelandic sheepskin; and hand-embroidery was used to create the eye detail and his mouth. No two ways about it - this artfully sculpted Bearnardo is "gonna rock it tonight"!

ORIGINAL DESIGN BY: IRENE SHARAFF
BROADWAY BEAR CREATED BY: GLORIA J. "MIMI" WINER
With the assistance of: Jim Winer (base)

Signed by: Ken Le Roy and George Chakiris