In partnership with two-time Tony Award-winning actress Christine Baranski and Doyle Auctioneers & Appraisers, The Actors Fund – providing human services for the performing arts and entertainment community since its founding in 1882 – is coordinating an online auction benefit, Stage & Screen, of one-of-a-kind items from Broadway, Hollywood, opera, and dance. The array of auction lots, including original drawings, photographs, wardrobe, set and costume designs, and other unique collectibles, will be updated each week leading up to the online event, which will go live around the world on Wednesday, April 28, at 10 am ET. An interactive digital auction catalogue will be published on the Doyle website on Thursday, April 15.
Among the pieces up for bid are the Dolce & Gabbana dress worn by Glenn Close on the red carpet for the opening night of Sunset Boulevard in 2017; the leather suit worn by Alan Cumming to the 1998 Tony Awards, when he won Best Actor in a Musical for Cabaret; classic Broadway costume and set designs from The Estate of Thomas P. Lacy; Hollywood and theater memorabilia from the Celeste Holm Collection, including her 1947 Golden Globe Award for Gentlemen’s Agreement; boots, jeans, and a t-shirt from Bruce Springsteen; a Wolverine jacket from Hugh Jackman; a banjo signed by Steve Martin; a pair of Elton John’s iconic glasses; a collection of signed books from Julie Andrews; and a limited-edition leather bound copy (one of only 30 in existence) of the screenplay of the first Downton Abbey movie, signed by the director, writer, producer, and cast.
While 10% of the proceeds from every item sold will benefit The Actors Fund, Baranski is also curating a collection of donated lots for which 100% of the sale price goes entirely to the organization, including her personal contribution of three gowns that she wore for appearances at the Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and Kennedy Center Honors. In addition, the full amount of viewer donations will go directly to The Actors Fund.
“Talk about Spring Cleaning! I asked my friends and colleagues of stage and screen to lend support to this meaningful auction and the response has been extraordinary,” said Baranski. “Our colleagues in the performing arts need our support during this incredibly difficult time of crisis. The Actors Fund has provided a much-needed lifeline to our industry, and their work is nothing short of miraculous. I know I’m excited to see what Dolly Parton, Cher, Julie Andrews, Bruce Springsteen, and over 20 incredible stage and screen legends are pulling out of their closet! Let’s support The Actors Fund in what I know will be a fun, hopeful, and nostalgic event!”
Joseph Benincasa, President and CEO of The Actors Fund, said, “We are so grateful for Doyle and especially to our good friend Christine Baranski for creating this extraordinarily fun way to fundraise. Our job is to support the people who work in performing arts and entertainment. This is a really beautiful example of how this marvelous community continues to find creative, new ways to return the favor.”
