Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 22nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition on Monday, April 28 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, April 29 (2 PM) at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street). The proceeds from the event will benefit BC/EFA.
Presenters this year will include
Roger Bart and
Megan Mullally (
Young Frankenstein),
Sierra Boggess and
Tituss Burgess (
The Little Mermaid),
Daniel Evans and
Jenna Russell (
Sunday in the Park with George),
Jonathan Groff and
Lea Michele (
Spring Awakening), Ron Kunene and
Tshidi Manye (
The Lion King),
Kelli O'Hara (
South Pacific) and
Tom Wopat (
A Catered Affair).
Productions presenting Bonnets include
August: Osage County,
Mary Poppins,
Xanadu,
South Pacific, Naked Boys Singing,
Sunday in the Park with George, Spamalot,
Spring Awakening,
Mamma Mia!,
The Lion King,
In The Heights,
Passing Strange,
Hairspray,
Gypsy,
Rent, Dancers Responding to AIDS represented by MOMIX, and the National Tours of
Jersey Boys and
The Lion King. The Broadway companies of
Wicked and
Legally Blonde will be co-presenting a Bonnet.
At the Tuesday performance, the Easter Bonnet judges will include
Sebastian Arcelus (
Jersey Boys),
Stephanie J. Block (
Wicked),
Dylan Baker (November),
Norm Lewis (
The Little Mermaid), Chris March (Project Runway),
S. Epatha Merkerson (Come Back, Little Sheba),
Matthew Morrison (
South Pacific), general manager
Albert Poland and casting director Bernie Telsey - who will be introduced by
Nathan Lane and
Laurie Metcalf (November).
The Easter Bonnet top fundraising and best presentation awards will be presented by
Harvey Fierstein and
Faith Prince (
A Catered Affair), and
David Hyde Pierce (
Curtains).
This year's Easter Bonnet competition will include the return of Bonnet favorites "Officer Lockstock and Little Sally" a.k.a.
Don Richard and Jen Cody; the very special return appearance by the 104 year-old original Ziegfeld Girl,
Doris Eaton Travis and will close with the performance of "Help Is On The Way" by
Anika Noni Rose (
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof).
Easter Bonnet TEAM RAISER donations can now be made online at www.BroadwayCares.org. In addition to general donations, to BC/EFA, supporters can create or join a fundraising team, or make donations in honor of a particular show. All donations will be counted toward the Easter Bonnet Competition's fundraising total. To participate in TEAM RAISER, click here.
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 original Easter bonnets, has become an annual Broadway tradition. There will be two opportunities for the public to see the Easter Bonnet Competition: Monday, April 28 at 4:30 PM and Tuesday, April 29 at 2:00 PM.
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 $140 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV and other related illnesses.
Tickets prices are as follows: $350 VIP Orchestra; $200 Priority Orchestra (Center); $120 Side Orchestra and Front Mezzanine; $40 Middle Side Section of Orchestra and Middle Mezzanine; $20 Rear Side Section of Orchestra and Rear Mezzanine.
Tickets are available now at
www.broadwaycares.org or by calling (212) 840-0770 Ext. 268.
