Bundy, Dancy, Etc. to Host Easter Bonnet Competition

Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS will present the 21st Annual Easter Bonnet Competition on Monday, April 23 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, April 24 (2 PM) at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street) to benefit BC/EFA.

The Easter Bonnet Competition, the two-day Broadway spectacular that features the companies of more than 20 Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions singing, dancing, and donning specially created Easter bonnets, has become an annual Broadway tradition.  There will be two opportunities for the public to see the Easter Bonnet Competition: Monday, April 23 at 4:30 PM and Tuesday, April 24 at 2:00 PM.

This year's hosts will include: Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde), Todd Buonopane (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Hugh Dancy (Journey's End), Paige Davis (Chicago), Jared Gertner (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening), Edward Hibbert (Curtains), Amy Irving (The Coast of Utopia), Ron Kunene (The Lion King), Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins), Tshidi Manye (The Lion King), Lea Michele (Spring Awakening), Patrick Page (The Lion King), Christine Pedi (Talk Radio), Seth Rudetsky (Legally Blonde), and Karen Ziemba (Curtains).

This year's judges include: Stephanie J. Block (The Pirate Queen), John Connolly (Executive Director of Actors' Equity Association), Joan Didion (Author of The Year of Magical Thinking), Tom Jones (Lyricist of 110 In The Shade and The Fantasticks), Baayork Lee (A Chorus Line), Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago), and Richard M. Sherman (composer of Mary Poppins).

Raul Esparza (Company) will sing David Friedman's "Help is on the Way," the official anthem of The Easter Bonnet Competition.

The Easter Bonnet Competition's 2007 opening number has been created by choreographer Christopher Gattelli and the team behind the Off-Broadway hit [title of show], Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen.

The Easter Bonnet Competition is the culmination of six intensive weeks of fundraising efforts by Broadway and Off-Broadway company members as well as numerous productions currently on national tour.  Curtain speeches, autographed poster and program sales, auctions, and cabaret performances bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars from audiences prior to the competition.  The winner of the competition will be the company that raises the largest amount of money for BC/EFA.  A second award is granted to the company with the best bonnet design and presentation.  Awards are also presented to the Broadway Play, National Tour and Off-Broadway production raising the most money for BC/EFA.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund raising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American theater community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since it's founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $130 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, or HIV-related illnesses.

Tickets prices are as follows: $350 VIP Orchestra (front and center); $200 Priority Orchestra (Center); $100 Middle Center and Side Orchestra; $40 Rear Center and Side Orchestra; $20 Rear Side Orchestra and Mezzanine.  Tickets are available now at www.broadwaycares.org or by calling (212) 840-0770 Ext. 268.

Photo of Laura Bell Bundy by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.