The Rebirth of Bares

Caring Cowboy - Longtime Broadway Bares choreographer and cast member Nick Kenkel
 
It might be hard to believe but the annual benefit Broadway Bares, which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for AIDS charities simply by having chorus boys and gals strip off their clothes for money, all started on the modest stage of Splash in Chelsea. With only seven dancers stripping on a bar, they managed to raise over $8,000. Now, in anticipation of creator Jerry Mitchell and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ sure-to-be-legendary 20th Anniversary Broadway Bares in June, the team looks back on the night that started it all. Mitchell, producing director Michael Graziano and longtime choreographer and cast member Nick Kenkel share with us how it all began and give us a glimpse into Bares’ milestone year.
 
How did you come up with the idea for Bares?
Jerry Mitchell: I was dancing almost naked on a drum in The Will Rogers Follies and a friend, Jason Opsahl, encouraged me to dance on the bar at Splash and the lightbulb went off in my head.
 
What were the originals like?
Michael Graziano: It started at Splash [and] then six months later at another bar. By the third Bares it was in a nightclub, Club USA. By number four we had over 50 dancers. Number five was held at Palladium and even got mentioned in the New York Times. For number nine we moved to our current home at Roseland. The 10th anniversary of Bares had over 150 dancers. [In 2004] we invented the Strip-a-thon, which has now raised more than $442,000. Last year we had 243 dancers in the show and raised over $800,000.
 
Who had the idea to re-create the original?
JM: As we were approaching number 20, we set the goal of raising $1 million. So we decided to do events prior to June 20 to reach that goal, starting with these two performances at Splash on Sunday night.
 
Will it be exactly the same as the original?
Nick Kenkel: In the sense that the guys will do their own solo strips, [it will be] a pared-down version of the current giant show. Sort of Broadway Bares “Unplugged,” back to our roots.
 
Splash has undergone renovations over the last 20 years. Will that affect the show?
MG: [Like Splash,] Broadway Bares is a New York institution and can handle anything that gets thrown our way.
 
Any gossip on June’s official Broadway Bares?
JM: It’s going to raise $1 million!
 
Why has Broadway Bares been such a big hit?
JM: Our motto for the 10th anniversary says it all: sass, class and ass!
 
Why do actors love being involved with Bares?
NK: It’s a show where the dancers are the stars, the one night a year where we all come together and support each other. There is no competition. We’re all on stage with the goal of raising as much money as possible.
 
What do you want audiences to take away from experiencing the original Broadway Bares?
NK: It is a fun tip of the hat to the original idea and at the original bar. And that is pretty special after 20 years on both accounts.
JM: Even after the 20th time, it can still be as much fun as the first time!    N
 
Broadway Bares: Solo Strips gets naked on Sunday, January 31 at Splash (50 W 17th, 212-691-0073). Visit BroadwayBares.com for more info.