For Amy Thompson, the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a yearly pilgrimage. Since 2018, she’s traveled from her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, to sift through stacks of Playbills, browse props, and raise her paddle at the live auction. For Thompson, the day offers more than memorabilia: it’s a way to celebrate Broadway’s artistry while supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
This Sunday, September 21, the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction returns to West 44th and West 45th Streets, Shubert Alley and Times Square—the very stretch of Broadway Thompson has come to know as her favorite autumnal tradition.
Last year, Thompson won at the live auction the opportunity to shadow the stage management team of The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre, a rare glimpse into the precise, behind-the-scenes choreography that keeps one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals roaring eight times a week.
For fans eager to secure their place on Pride Rock, that coveted Lion King experience returns to the auction this year. Other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities include attending a live taping of NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night in Los Angeles, stepping into the spotlight with a walk-on role in & Juliet and taking the maestro’s baton to conduct the exit music for Chicago. Pre-bidding is now live on these experiences and hundreds more items and opportunities to spark your inner theater fan.
For her Lion King experience, Thompson was guided by longtime production stage manager Antonia Gianino. They climbed into the booth high above the audience, where every light, sound, and scenic shift is called. “I had never seen a stage manager’s script before,” she said. “Every word, every lyric was mapped to a cue. To watch it unfold in real time was absolutely fascinating.”
She was surprised to learn that The Lion King requires five stage managers per performance, each with a different assignment—from calling the show to monitoring the wings to managing props and elevators. “I always thought there was just one stage manager,” she said with a laugh. “Now I’ll never watch a show the same way again.”
Beyond the technical expertise, Thompson was moved by the family spirit backstage. During intermission, she met the young performers playing Simba and Nala, as well as other members of the company. “It wasn’t just about precision and cues,” Thompson said. “It was about community. Antonia reminded everyone to wish an actor well on his final performance. That sense of connection was beautiful to see.”
The experience joined a long list of Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction memories for Thompson, who has also bid her way to lunch with Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee, a private dance lesson with Tony-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo, a walk-on role in Chicago, and Zoom conversations with stars like Kristin Chenoweth, Ben Platt, and Billy Porter.
Last year, Thompson couldn’t make the Broadway Flea Market in person. But that didn’t stop her resolve—she was still able to join in the auction action through a proxy phone bidder. “You can’t see what’s going on,” she said. “You just hear voices and hope the auctioneer is talking to you. It’s nerve-racking, but thrilling!” Proxy phone bidding is available on all live and silent auction items.
Still, it’s the energy of the event itself that keeps her coming back. “There’s nothing like the live auction,” she said. “The bidding wars, the laughter, the surprises—it’s electric. And at the end of the day, you know you’re supporting the very artists who bring Broadway to life.”
Explore 219 live and silent auction lots—as well as a list of participating show tables and Autograph Table and Photo Booth special guests—ahead of this Sunday’s Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
Francesca Toscano is the Senior Content Manager for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
