Photo Coverage: Inside BC/EFA's 2014 Easter Easter Bonnet Competition with Franco, Karimloo, Karl, Mueller & More!- Part One
By: Jennifer Broski Apr. 23, 2014
The generosity of theatre fans during six weeks of fundraising by 57 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies helped push the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition to another record high, raising $4,532,129 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the celebration below! CLICK HERE for Part 2!
Broadway veterans Idina Menzel and Denzel Washington joined newcomers Bryan Cranston and Fran Drescher on Tuesday to announce the final total following the finale of two stunning Easter Bonnet Competition shows filled with song, dance, comedy and 17 elaborate, creative, custom-made bonnets.
Since the Easter Bonnet Competition (#bcefabonnets) began in 1987, the event has raised more than $58 million for Broadway Cares. Last year's event raised $4,250,542.
The Minksoff Theatre, current home to Disney's The Lion King, was packed as a standing-room audience cheered for Cranston, Drescher, Menzel and Washington, who also presented awards to the companies who raised the most for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS as well as the winner for most outstanding bonnet design and presentation.
The company of The Lion King won best bonnet presentation for an uproarious take-off of their own frequently winning presentations, this time featuring the booty-short wearing "two white guys" from their show aerobically dancing to Frank Stallone's "Far from Over." After Midnight took runner-up honors for a sultry, crowd-pleasing number set in a speakeasy with gorgeous flappers, their gentlemen callers and two lounge singers who delivered a steamy, jazz-infused take on Beyonce's "Crazy in Love."
The special award for bonnet design was given to the company of Once for its bonnet, created by Becky Bodurtha.
Broadway's biggest names this season served as hosts for show, including Brandon Victor Dixon (Motown The Musical), Jerry Dixon (If/Then), Hunter Foster (The Bridges of Madison County), Ramin Karimloo (LES MISERABLES), Andy Karl (Rocky), Ron Kunene (Disney's The Lion King), Tshidi Manye (Disney's The Lion King), Jefferson Mays (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder), Cass Morgan (The Bridges of Madison County), Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Bryce Pinkham (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder), Christopher Sieber (Matilda The Musical) and Karen Ziemba(Bullets Over Broadway).
The judges were introduced by the stars of Of Mice and Men: James Franco, Chris O'Dowd and Leighton Meester.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski
Rory O'Malley and opening number performers
Rory O'Malley and opening number performers
Rory O'Malley and opening number performers
Rory O'Malley and opening number performers
Rory O'Malley and opening number performers
Michael Riedel and opening number performers
Michael Riedel and opening number performers
Bobby Steggert, Frederick Weller, Grayson Taylor
Terrence McNally, Bobby Steggert, Frederick Weller, Grayson Taylor, Tyne Daly
Luca Padovan, Molly Jobe, Zachary Unger
Luca Padovan, Molly Jobe, Zachary Unger
Luca Padovan, Molly Jobe, Zachary Unger
Joe Carroll and the cast of CINDERELLA
Jeff Blumenkrantz, Brett Ryback
Brett Ryback, Jeff Blumenkrantz
Brett Ryback, Jeff Blumenkrantz
Jerry Dixon, Brandon Victor Dixon
Kile Hotchkiss, Emily Schoen
Kile Hotchkiss, Emily Schoen
Kile Hotchkiss, Emily Schoen
Gerard Salvador, Kimberly Marable, Jennifer Mudge, Noah Aberlin
Christopher Sieber, Cass Morgan, Hunter Foster
Christopher Sieber, Cass Morgan, Hunter Foster
AFTER MIDNIGHT cast
AFTER MIDNIGHT cast
AFTER MIDNIGHT cast
AFTER MIDNIGHT cast
MAMMA MIA cast
MAMMA MIA cast
MAMMA MIA cast
Cast members from national tours
Kim Zimmer and cast from national tours
Cast members from national tours
James Franco, Leighton Meester, Chris O'Dowd
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