This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at MMM chapter.
This past weekend was the 29th annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction. Theatre fans came from all over the country to attend the annual event. The flea is an all day event with many surprises and incredible deals. It’s basically Christmas day for the die-hard fans of Broadway.
The flea market is held every year in the same space: Shubert Alley and onto West 44th Street — right off of Times Square. This year there were 74 tables occupied by Broadway and off-Broadway shows, producing organizations, fan groups, and collectibles. They sell props, costumes, playbills, show merchandise, posters — every piece of memorabilia you could imagine. There are also separate tables to get autographs and photos with your favorite Broadway stars. 68 Broadway stars came out and donated their time to the flea market, which raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
“It’s so moving and invigorating to see actors, stage managers, producers, theatrical unions and fans alike come together to browse through those old Playbills, compete for auction treasures, meet Broadway’s best and celebrate their love of Broadway,” said Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
When I first got to the flea market, I was completely overwhelmed. I had no idea where to start looking or what I actually wanted to look for. There was no way I could even get near any of the tables since they were completely surrounded by crowds of people. Just to get a look at what was on a table I would have to wait around ten to twenty minutes. Once I finally got up to the table my eyes had to scan fast and leave quickly so that the next rush of people could get to the front. The worst part of the flea market was digging through endless amounts of playbills, hoping that you would find the one that you wanted. Other people were looking in the same bins as you, so if you didn’t watch out, you could get an occasional elbow in the arm or chest — ouch! I was trying to find an original The Phantom of the Opera playbill but sadly for me the lady next to me told me she was looking for one as well. Those were fighting words to me. I was getting serious paper cuts from sifting through playbills so rapidly. I also employed my friends to start searching as well. There was no way that I was going to let this random lady, who I’m sure was a sweetheart, find the playbill before me. Luckily, my friend Dillon found one. I nearly cried tears of joy. I was able to hand over my dollar bill to the attendant and leave the crowded table behind – phew! I ended up going to the flea market three times over the course of the day. I had to leave the first time to go back home to drop off some of my purchases, then I went again before seeing a matinee performance of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, and then I went back for the final time after the show to see if any of the prices dropped, which they did, and to see some of the live auction. It was a long but, amazing day.
My favorite tables at the flea market were The Phantom of the Opera and Broadway.com tables. Phantom is my favorite show and I adore Broadway.com because it has all the latest news about broadway musicals, plays, and stars. I ended up getting two posters, one of which was signed by the entire Phantom cast, a playbill, and an actual prop used in the show. At the Broadway.com table I bought posters of It Shoulda Been You and Of Mice and Men and four playbills from various shows I have seen.
Some of the top selling tables at the flea market were Hamilton with $22,624, Something Rotten! with $11,405, Wicked with $21,916, Creative Goods Merchandise with $13,745, Finding Neverland with $13,434, The Phantom of the Opera with $12,187, Stage Directors & Choreographers Society with $10,944, and TDF’s fan favorite “Pik-a-Tik” with $15,212. All the tables at the flea market raised a total of $385,915. The grand auction raised a record of $295,500. Some of the lots were “walk on” appearances in Broadway shows such as Kinky Boots, Les Miserables, Wicked, and Chicago. This specific portion of lots at the grand auction made $84,000.
The 29th annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction was more impressive than ever before. I couldn’t imagine seeing so many Broadway fans in one place. There was so much happiness and excitement in the air. If you were at a table looking through playbills, posters, or collectibles, it was easy to strike up a conversation with the person next to you, knowing that they wouldn’t look at you with any judgement whatsoever. The best part about the flea market is that you can get so much stuff for so cheap. Everything that was sold will be treasured by someone somewhere in the world. The Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction helps the Broadway community come together and appreciate the passion for the theatre shared by people from many different age groups and backgrounds.