Broadway Bares Sets June Return to NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom

Broadway Bares, the annual striptease to raise money for Broadway Cares, is set for June 23 at 9:30 PM and midnight at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

Broadway's sexiest night of the year will feature more than 150 New York City dancers. Kellen Stancil will direct this year's fundraiser with a theme to be announced in May.

Joining Stancil as associate director is Paula DeLuise. Bares founder, Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, and Nick Kenkel are executive producers.

“Bringing to life this exhilarating event that is part of the fabric of New York City theatre is an honor and exciting challenge,” said Stancil, a Broadway Bares veteran who recently concluded an 11-year run as dance captain at The Lion King, in a statement. “I’ve been a dancer, then choreographer, with Bares for more than a decade. I’ve felt the show’s palpable energy course through my veins, both onstage and in the audience. I couldn’t be more thrilled to guide Bares’ electrifying performances, singular seductiveness, and empowering sense of community this year.”

Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares, added, “From Bares’ humble beginnings of dancers stripping for a cause on top of the bar of Splash in Chelsea to the herculean, show-stopping spectacle the show is today, at the core of Broadway Bares is heart. Every strut, strip and mindblowing dance move at Hammerstein translates into meals and medication, health care and hope for people facing critical illnesses in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C."

Broadway Bares was created in 1992 by Mitchell during his time as a Broadway dancer. Looking for a way to raise awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS, Mitchell and six of his friends danced atop a New York City bar and raised $8,000. Last year’s edition took in $1.88 million, bringing the total to more than $26 million for Broadway Cares.

Broadway Cares 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 theater community, since 1988 Broadway Cares has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Tickets and VIP packages (including a cocktail party with Tony winner Mitchell) are now on sale at BroadwayCares.org/bares.