Cubby Bernstein Cares, Dammit!

Cubby Bernstein -- best described as the Li'l Tyke version of Ari Gold -- had theatre bigshots scratching their heads last Tony season. He started popping up on YouTube, manhandling legends of the Great White Way and sweet-talking superstars into confessing their thespian crushes. Broadway's best and brightest praised him as the premiere Tony campaign manager, singlehandedly making stars and hits and showstopping choices. His catchphrase: "I smell Tony."

Don't quite get it? Check out this clip from one of the kid's virally infectious webisodes:

It's as if Roger Ebert, Richie Rich, Harvey Weinstein and Billy Mayes magically fused into one irresistibly cute powerhouse. He grabbed a hold of his favorite Broadway show last season -- Xanadu (now touring across the country!) -- as it swept up a Tony nomination and a heap of accolades. But now, Cubby B. is turning his enterprise into a charitable one by partnering with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He's advocating for gay rights and raising money for BC/EFA, hocking his video series on DVD -- with 100 percent of the proceeds donated directly to the cause.

At Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert, Cubby pitched his product as only a pro can do (and gave a left hook to California's Prop 8 and its lame take on legality while he was at it):

"Hey, Pussycats, here's something the theater community has never had in the their DVD collection before -- SOMETHING LEGAL!! It's not a bootleg, how about that? No in-and-out of focus at pivotal moments, no person in front of you leaning back and forth, no sound of the cameraman breathing. No Patti Lupone asking you who you think you are. To participate in an actual legal event and have the proceeds go to a good cause -- now that's the sign of a mensch!"

Sure, you can get some good doses of Cubby on YouTube... but wouldn't you rather turn your donation into entertainment by snatching up the video series for yourself? Who knows? He may inspire you to embrace your creative genius and go for the gold.

Cubby Bernstein, the series is available on DVD at www.cubbybernstein.com, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.