Broadway Flea Market Raises $550,000 for Charity

NEW YORK (AP) — Autographs from stage stars, show tickets and posters and the chance to win walk-on roles in some of Broadway's biggest musicals helped rake in almost $550,000 for charity at the 25th-annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.

Bidders on Sunday snapped up memorabilia and one-of-a-kind items from more than a dozen Broadway shows, including "Sister Act," ''Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," ''Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical," ''Billy Elliot" and "Anything Goes."

The total raised was $547,658 — or $70,000 more than last year. The all-day event was held in Times Square to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The top-selling item on auction was a day at "The Phantom of the Opera," including a walk-on role with a costume and makeup. Two people each won with bids of $10,500.

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