The 23rd annual Broadway Bares raised a whopping $1.4 million on June 23 at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, earning record-breaking funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.



Titled United Strips of America, this year’s star-studded burlesque—a one-night-only event, with two showtimes—was directed by Nick Kenkel. In the show, Max von Essen and Michael Cusumano portrayed a bicoastal couple who each set out on separate, sexy journeys through a dozen states, encountering Lone Star cowboys, Mormon sister wives, New York fashionistas, Chicago gangsters and even mermaids in Maine.



With an audience 6,000, the show featured 220 New York dancers and included appearances by some of Broadway’s best, including two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek), Lesli Margherita (Matilda) and Tony Award winner Billy Potter (Kinky Boots). 



For a fourth consecutive year, the event broke its fundraising record. In total, Broadway Bares has raised more than $11.3 million.

For more info, visit broadwaycares.org.

Click here to read our feature story on Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.