Jennifer Hudson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Leslie Odom Jr. & More to Present at BC/EFA's 30th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition

The 30th annual edition of Easter Bonnet Competition will feature performances by more than 230 Broadway and Off-Broadway singers and dancers, the Broadway Inspirational Voices and a stellar lineup of Broadway favorites, all celebrating six weeks of fundraising efforts by company members of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.

Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, this year's Easter Bonnet Competition (#BroadwayBonnets) will be held at 4:30 pm Monday, April 25, and at 2 pm Tuesday, April 26, at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street), home to Disney's The Lion King.

The Easter Bonnet Competition is a two-day Broadway spectacular that features Broadway's best performing songs, dances and skits, each topped off by the unveiling of an elaborate, handcrafted bonnet. It is also a unique occasion for the entire theatre community to come together to celebrate the talents and commitment that make Broadway Cares' fundraising campaigns possible.

Seventeen fabulous bonnets will be unveiled after performances that include the casts of An American in Paris, Avenue Q, Chicago, Disaster!, Fun Home, Hamilton, Kinky Boots, The Lion King, School of Rock - The Musical, Straight and Wicked.

This year's Easter Bonnet Competition will include a performance by the Broadway Inspirational Voices, led by Michael McElroy, and an original opening number directed by T. Oliver Reid, choreographed by Rommy Sandhu and written by Jed Resnick. The show also will feature a tribute to national touring productions, choreographed by Kellen Stancil, as well as a number honoring Broadway Cares' indefatigable Bucket Brigade volunteers, directed by Jonathan Cerullo. In addition, three of BC/EFA's affiliate organizations - Broadway Green Alliance, Broadway Serves and R.Evolución Latina - will grace the stage with a special number directed by Luis Salgado.

Broadway favorites scheduled to host this year's event include Alex Brightman (School of Rock - The Musical), Kerry Butler (Disaster!), Carmen Cusack (Bright Star), Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), Adam Kantor (Fiddler on the Roof), Tshidi Manye (The Lion King), Alexandra Silber (Fiddler on the Roof), Jennifer Simard (Disaster!) and L. Steven Taylor (The Lion King). The Crucible's Tina Benko, Jason Butler Harner, Ciarán Hines, Saoirse Ronan, Ray Anthony Thomas and Ben Whishaw also will join as hosts. Special guests Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi from She Loves Me will introduce the judges on Tuesday.

Christian Borle (Something Rotten!), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Fully Committed and TV's Modern Family) and Jennifer Hudson (The Color Purple) will announce the top fundraisers and the best presentation and best bonnet awards at the conclusion of Tuesday's performance. Rachel York (Disaster!) will close each show with "Help is on the Way," BC/EFA's traditional Easter Bonnet anthem written by David Friedman.

The winner of the Easter Bonnet Competition will be the company that has raised the most for Broadway Cares during the six-week fundraising campaign, which concludes Sunday, April 24. A panel of esteemed judges will determine awards for best bonnet design and best presentation.

This year's Easter Bonnet Competition judges are Nicholas Barasch (She Loves Me), Reed Birney (The Humans), Sierra Boggess (School of Rock - The Musical), Joseph Leo Bwarie (Jersey Boys), Robert Creighton (Cagney), Jayne Houdyshell (The Humans), Alix Korey (Fiddler on the Roof), Kyle Scatliffe (The Color Purple) and Nancy Van Duyne, vice president of congressional affairs at United Airlines, a longtime Broadway Cares corporate sponsor. Also joining the panel are Lee Perlman and Amy Rocchi, who won their judging spots by bidding on exclusive VIP packages at the 29th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.

The 29 previous editions of the Easter Bonnet Competition have raised more $63.3 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Last year's event brought in a record $4,711,386.

A limited number of tickets are available. For details, visit broadwaycares.org or call 212.840.0770, ext. 268.