BC/EFA Spring Fundraising Campaign Raises $4,288,994; THE MUSIC MAN Sets Record, Surpassing $2 Million

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' traditional in-theater red bucket fundraising concluded its long-awaited return with 40 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions raising $4,288,994 to provide meals and medication, health care and hope for those living with HIV/AIDS, dealing with COVID-19 or facing other debilitating illnesses.

Broadway Cares' Spring Fundraising Campaign took place over a six-week period starting on March 18, 2022, and ending last Sunday, May 1, 2022.

Broadway's The Music Man raised $2,071,806 and set an all-time record in a single campaign for any show in Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS history. Energized by stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, the show reached that total through exhilarating post-show auctions of Jackman- and Foster-signed costume gloves and Jackman's prop whistles, plus sales of posters autographed by the entire cast. The auctions' extraordinary success was led by cast members Nicholas Ward and Ann Sanders.

The post-show audience appeals and iconic #RedBuckets had been absent from stages and theaters since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the industry in March 2020.

"Audiences and shows alike greeted the careful and strategic return this spring to a full fundraising campaign with such enthusiasm," Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said. "Throughout the six weeks, productions graciously joined in the effort. In addition to extraordinary cast support, we extend our sincere thanks to theater owners and producers, and, most especially, to the stage managers who steered efforts behind the scenes and to all onstage, backstage and front of house who made our return to in-theater fundraising such a success. Their efforts ensure our grant-making can continue this summer reaching hundreds of organizations nationwide."

The Broadway companies participating in the fundraising were Aladdin, American Buffalo, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Come From Away, Company, Dear Evan Hansen, Encores! The Life, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King, MJ, Mrs. Doubtfire, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, Plaza Suite, Six, Take Me Out, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and Wicked. The Off-Broadway productions of Jersey Boys, Little Girl Blue, Little Shop of Horrors and The Play That Goes Wrong also rallied support through audience appeals.

For the first time ever, the lobby buckets were held exclusively by Broadway Cares volunteers and staff. Traditionally, cast members would also appear at the exits, but current COVID safety measures prevented that direct interaction. More than 200 masked and vaccinated volunteers and staff members offered opportunities to make donations and thanked audiences leaving performances.

All-Time Record-Breaking Champion

The Music Man - $2,071,806

2022 Spring Fundraising Campaign Leaders

Broadway Musicals

Top Fundraiser: Hamilton - $283,551

1st Runner-up: Wicked - $228,181

2nd Runner-up: The Lion King - $158,001

3rd Runner-up: Hadestown - $146,701

Broadway Plays

Top Fundraiser: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - $57,636

1st Runner-up: Plaza Suite - $25,583

Off-Broadway Plays and Musicals

Top Fundraiser: Little Shop of Horrors - $37,965

1st Runner-up: The Play That Goes Wrong - $35,485

Thirteen national touring productions raised $152,344, relying almost exclusively on QR codes and online donations after curtain appeals rather than in-person red bucket donations. Broadway Cares could not provide volunteers to hold buckets in the tours' more than 20 cities on the road as done in New York City. To help in the fundraising, some productions also created personalized video greetings in exchange for donations through the Cameo app.

The national tour fundraisers were led by Hamilton's ...And Peggy company, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in San Francisco. They were joined in the fundraising by the tours of The Band's Visit, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Hadestown, Hamilton 's Angelica and Philip companies, The Lion King, Mean Girls and Moulin Rouge! The Musical .

Although in-theater appeals were back this spring, the two-day Easter Bonnet Competition performance, which typically celebrates the end of the spring fundraising efforts, was placed on hiatus until April 2023.

Since the Easter Bonnet Competition began in 1987, the spring fundraising efforts have raised $91.8 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Despite the full two-year-long in-theater fundraising pause brought about by the pandemic, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' grant-making has continued in earnest. Since March 2020, Broadway Cares has awarded $35 million in grants to The Actors Fund and 450 other social service organizations across the country.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theater community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. Broadway Cares also awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., providing lifesaving medication, healthy meals, counseling and emergency assistance.

For more information, please visit Broadway Cares online at broadwaycares.org, at facebook.com/BCEFA, at instagram.com/BCEFA, at twitter.com/BCEFA and at youtube.com/BCEFA.