Broadway Flea Market experiences?

[furry_bean915]

THE BEST DAY EVER

I often buy a lot of Playbills. Last year, I bought about 25 Playbills ( including War Horse, Spamalot opening night, and 9 to 5 opening night) for $5. I also picked up a few souvenirs, such as keychains ( Grease 2007) and a 64th annual Tony Award tshirt.

I normally spend about $150 and I stay away from the celebrity tables because there are so many people.

[Kelly2]

It can be overwhelming, the crowds are always a source of frustration, for sure. But as far as it being a WONDERFUL charity event where all the money is going to a fabulous cause...can't be beat. You can find tons of cool stuff if you look hard enough and honestly? I don't get the bitching about the prices. It's a charity event. 99% of charity auctions/events overcharge because of the understanding that it is going to charity.

It's worth mentioning that most of the "big ticket" items are also tax deductible.

[theminutepast]

What's there to buy besides Playbills and t-shirts?

[Marianne2]

^ Anything really. It depends on the table. Like last year Debra Monk had a table where she was selling her scripts from tv and movie appearances that she signed. I think she was also doing photos too.

Some tables might just have random stuff that people involved with the table don't want anymore. I got a portable dvd player for $20 at one.

You will probably also find lots of souvenir type things that were sold at theaters. I know the table for Priscilla Queen of the Desert was selling ping pong balls and containers of glitter too. Sometimes signs from closed shows are there. There also might be special autographed items. Some groups even just sell food if they have nothing else to sell.

You just never know what you will find or what people are willing to do to raise money.

[grumpyoptimist]

The Priscilla table was my favorite because people from the show were manning it. J. Elaine Marcos (she of the ping pong skills) hung out until she had to go over for cast call. I brought two chain "dresses" that were used in the show (suckers are 6 pounds each). many of the tables have show used props...the Phantom table had the most used show stuff, including (if I remember correctly) signed ballet shoes. Many of the shows that have some kind of written "invitation" or "note" prop (Phantom and Follies come to mind) had cast members autograph them and they were sold at the tables at pretty reasonable prices given their uniqueness. It truly is stuff you won't find anywhere else, and you don't have to worry if it's authentic

[craig238]

This will be me and my wife's 17th straight year !!!

[LizzieCurry]

What's there to buy besides Playbills and t-shirts?

Random props or costume cast-offs. (especially from the Phantom table). T-shirts from closed shows. Dinged posters. Broadway Softball League shirts. Home-made crafts and/or food. The Book of Mormon table last year had a brick from the set of the original run of Les Miz -- someone in their cast or crew had been holding onto it.