Photo Flash: Go Inside BC/EFA's 29th Annual EASTER BONNET Competition; Raises Record-Breaking $4,711,386

The generosity of the American theatre community shined brightly as six weeks of spring fundraising raised another record-breaking grand total for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The 29th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition (#bwaybonnets) raised a remarkable $4,711,386, making this the third year in a row the event set a new fundraising record.

The grand total was announced Tuesday, April 21, 2015, by four of this season's brightest stars: Andy Karl (On the Twentieth Century), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), Helen Mirren (The Audience), and Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland).

The news was revealed after two days of Easter Bonnet Competition performances, which honored the fundraising efforts of 52 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions in song, dance, comedy and 18 ornate, handmade bonnets.

More than 200 of Broadway and Off-Broadway's most talented performers performed in this year's show, which was once again held at the Minskoff Theatre, home to Disney's The Lion King.

Karl, Miranda, Mirren, and Morrison were met with thunderous applause from the standing-room audience as they announced the top fundraisers and the winners of outstanding bonnet design and best presentation at this year's show.

The company of Jersey Boys took top design honors for its shimmering crystal-and LED-covered bonnet, created by Ricky Yates.

Winning the best presentation award was the company of Avenue Q, which lamented The Lion King's perennial status as the winner of the presentation award. In "Bonnet of Life," the Avenue Q cast delivered a side-splitting parody of the long-running Disney hit's signature number "Circle of Life," which left the audience roaring.

Runner-up honors went to Jersey Boys, featuring current and alumni cast members who showed what happened when the legendary show went global. The company delivered amusing international versions of the show's hits as performed by a mariachi band, a German oompah band, a reggae quartet and full-scale Bollywood production.