The 22nd ANNUAL EASTER BONNET COMPETITION was a great success with a record-breaking, $3,734,129 being raised this year by the 53 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. Since it began in 1987, 22 editions of the Annual Easter Bonnet Competition have raised over $35 million for BC/EFA.
Harvey Fierstein and
Faith Prince (
A Catered Affair) and
David Hyde Pierce (
Curtains) were on hand to present the awards for top fund raising companies and the outstanding bonnet presentation. The winner for bonnet presentation was
Sunday in the Park with George's
Kelsey Fowler and Alison Horowitz, who share the role of the young girl, 'Louise,' performing
Stephen Sondheim's "We Do Not Belong Together" as 'George' and a very pregnant 'Dot'..
Leading the highlights from this year's competition was BC/EFA's favorite Ziegfeld girl,
Doris Eaton Travis, at 104 years young, made her 10th appearance at the Easter Bonnet Competition dancing to "Singin' in the Rain," sung by
Curtains star
John Bolton and choreographed by
Curtains ensemble member
Ward Billeisen and introduced by
Phylicia Rashad (
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof).
After 12 years on Broadway, raising over $3 million for BC/EFA, the cast of
Rent appeared for the last time at the Easter Bonnet Competition, singing a medley of "Seasons of Love" and "Love Heals," filling the stage with the current and past cast members of the hit show. Other highlights included the cast of
Passing Strange performing a parody of
Michael Jackson's "Thriller," which was entitled "
Passing Strangest."
In The Heights did their own interpretation of the song "One Day More," the first act finale of Les Miserables, with a parody entitled "Un Dia Mas!!" The cast of
Spring Awakening was also on hand to perform a hilarious parody of the entire score of
Grease. Easter Bonnet "favorites" Officer Lockstock and Little Sally, better known as
Don Richard and Jen Cody made a return appearance perhaps best characterized as a humorous version of "shock and awe".
This year's fundraising award winners were:
Top Fundraising Award :
Rent - $277,739
Broadway Companies:
1st Runner-up: Spamalot - $264,900
2nd Runner-up:
Wicked - $197,889
3rd Runner-up:
The Phantom of the Opera - $151,267
4th Runner-up:
The Lion King - $147,283
Special awards were also given to the top fundraising Broadway play, Off-Broadway company, and touring company. This year, the top fundraising Broadway play was
August: Osage County ($64,500); and the top fundraising Off-Broadway company was Altar Boyz ($19,632).
Touring Companies:
Top National Tour Fundraiser:
Jersey Boys / Chicago - $255,000
1st Runner-up:
Jersey Boys / National Tour - $184,781
2nd Runner-up:
Wicked / Los Angeles - $160,023
The 16 National Touring shows participating raised a grand total of $1,123,387.
The results of this year's bonnet presentation were:
Winner:
Sunday in the Park with GeorgeFirst Runner Up: Naked Boys Singing - "Off-Broadway Lament" and
The Lion King - "True Colors" (tie)
Second Runner Up:
In The Heights
The special award for bonnet design was given to
Passing Strange. The winning bonnet was designed by Susan Goulet and
Rebecca Naomi Jones, inspired by lighting designer
Kevin Adams.
This year's hosts included: 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),
Kate Shindle (
Legally Blonde) and
Tom Wopat (
A Catered Affair).
This year's judges included:
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 were hilariously introduced by
Nathan Lane and
Laurie Metcalf (November).
This year's opening number was called "Project Broadway," and featured "Project Runway" designers
Malan Breton; Kayne Gillaspie; Angela Keslar and Chris March. The number was written by Michael Lee Scott, directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher with musical direction by
Brad Haak.
Anika Noni Rose (
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) sang
David Friedman's "Help is on the Way," the official anthem of The Easter Bonnet Competition.
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.
