Photos/Video: Watch Highlights from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Easter Bonnet Competition

The Easter Bonnet Competition is the culmination of six weeks of fundraising efforts by company members of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring production. The efforts play a crucial role in Broadway Cares' National Grants Program, which supports health care, counseling, meals, medication and emergency financial support in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.

"To see this level of excitement from old friends at long-running productions and new friends from this season's smash hits reminds us all of the joy we share when everyone comes together in community," Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said. "Every year we marvel at this beautiful ecosystem keeping performers insured, healthy and treated with dignity and respect in times of crisis while also providing vital social services for those most in need across the country. We couldn't have revived and renewed a tradition like Easter Bonnet Competition without the dedication of our 207 Bucket Brigade volunteers and everyone onstage, backstage and behind the scenes who eagerly participated. We are so grateful to be back."

Each spring, bands of volunteers and cast members in theaters across the country join the time-honored tradition of in-theater #RedBuckets fundraising. Through inspiring onstage appeals, lively poster and Playbill signing parties and coordinated in-theater donations, the theatrical community onstage, backstage and in the audience play a part in supporting those most in need across the country and around the corner.

Among the memorable performances at this year's Easter Bonnet Competition:

-Alfred Uhry's Parade transformed into a welcoming Pride parade confronting the wave of anti-drag and anti-trans legislation being enacted in several states. Featuring Broadway cast members, performers from the Trans Entertainment Guild and notable NYC drag queens, revised lyrics to the show's opening number proclaimed, "Praise those who fight for the kid with a story/For our proud and valiant friends/Stand together to the end." The show's prideful, butterfly-adorned bonnets were created by Sarah Marie Dixey.

-In a hilariously self-deprecating skit, the cast of Bad Cinderella turned the tables on reviewers critical of the show by flipping Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" lyrics into an anthem of positivity. They sang, "This show is on fire ... bad reviews can shove it 'cause the people love it" as they unveiled an incendiary dumpster-fire bonnet, designed by Dav Burrington and Nora Fisher.

-Kimberly Akimbo's youthful cast members appeared as a struggling show choir when Bonnie Milligan, as her character Aunt Debra, encouraged the unpopular group of kids to let their freak flag fly in a clear nod to Shrek. The teenagers accepted themselves "suspenders and all" before the emergence of a bonnet complete with roller skates and a glittery helmet, created by Rebecca Heroff, Renee Levine Furphy, Dawn Marcoccia, Reed Neal and Karen Zitnick.

-The cracklin' company of A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical presented a comical piece in which Will Swenson's Diamond is encouraged by a music industry head to include Pinocchio, Robin Hood and a gang of Shrek characters in his song "I'm a Believer" to appeal to younger audiences. The show's fire-breathing dragon bonnet, worn by Swenson and escorted by Mark Jacoby, was created by Melissa Joy, Noelle McMillin and Cj Baptista.

-The company of Hamilton exuberantly danced to "Another Day of Sun" from La La Land in a spirit-lifting, sun-kissed dance choreographed by cast member Thayne Jasperson. The number featured a luminously stunning golden bonnet and gown, created by Anna Kate Spears, that lit up the stage.

This year's Bonnet Parade included bonnets from Little Shop of Horrors, created by Teddy Yudain, Shane Lacoss and Aaron Arnell Harrington and worn by Harrington; Six, created by House of Valentine and worn by Alexandra de Suze; and Some Like It Hot, created by Jeff Johnson-Doherty and worn by J. Harrison Ghee. The parade also included a touching tribute to Starlite Deli, Broadway's favorite sandwich shop which is closing this month after 39 years when its beloved owner Jung Min Kim retires. The Starlite bonnet was created by Stacey Galloway, Jaime Samson and Cynthia Boardman and worn by Doug Shapiro.

The show's opening number featured James Jackson Jr. (A Strange Loop) and Sonya Balsara (Aladdin) as Broadway porters, working to unload the heavy baggage of everything Broadway has been through since the pandemic - from seemingly unending COVID tests to the challenges of keeping shows open. Special guests included Jeigh Madjus (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) and Jackie Hoffman. The number was written and directed by Billy Hipkins with choreography by Alex Sanchez and costumes by Stacey Stephens.

National touring productions were honored with Jamie Cullum's jazzy cover of My Fair Lady's "I Could Have Danced All Night." Conceived and choreographed by Lainie Sakakura, with costumes by Jeffrey Wallach, the piece focused on the challenges of a life on the road and featured real-life families heading out on tour and the joy of reuniting.

Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, was represented by Parsons Dance with "Balance of Power." The number featured an eclectic mix of dance styles and strength moves in a thrilling duet by Zoey Anderson and Croix DiIenno.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS affiliate organizations Broadway Green Alliance, Broadway Serves and R.Evolución Latina created beautiful bonnets featured in a number that also included modern dance and a narrator describing the impactful missions and initiatives of each organization, especially during the pandemic. All three bonnets were constructed by Joe Napolitano.

Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo) closed out the show with an electrifying performance of "Help Is on the Way," the longtime Easter Bonnet Competition anthem written by David Friedman.

This year's Easter Bonnet Competition was hosted by Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot), Victoria Clark (Kimberly Akimbo), Micaela Diamond and Ben Platt (Parade), Bongi Duma and Lindiwe Dlamini (The Lion King); Kimberly Marable (Chicago); Stark Sands (& Juliet); Will Swenson (A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical) and the current queens of Broadway's Six, Bella Coppola, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Zoe Jensen, Taylor Imán Jones, Nasia Thomas and Hailee Kaleem Wright.

Special guests Carolee Carmello (Bad Cinderella), Arian Moayed (A Doll's House) and Brandon Uranowitz (Leopoldstadt) introduced the esteemed panel of judges that selected the best presentation award winners on Tuesday.

This year's judges were veteran Broadway producer and Broadway Cares Trustee Barry Brown, Kevin Cahoon and Caroline Innerbichler (Shucked), director and choreographer Wayne Cilento (Bob Fosse's Dancin'), Jordan Dobson and Linedy Genao (Bad Cinderella), Tovah Feldshuh (Funny Girl), Elijah Rhea Johnson (MJ The Musical) and Paulo Szot (& Juliet).

And returning to his position behind the Voice of God microphone was longtime Broadway Cares friend and champion David Masenheimer.

This year's Easter Bonnet Competition was presented at the Minskoff Theater, home to Disney's The Lion King. The show was directed by Paul J. Smith, with Mahlon Kruse serving as production stage manager, Ted Arthur as music supervisor, Chris Gurr as music director and Charles Gordon as orchestra coordinator. Sound design was by Greg Reif; lighting design was by Jessica Creager.

Since the Easter Bonnet Competition began in 1987, the Spring Fundraising efforts have raised $95.3 million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Photo Credit: Rebecca J. Michelson/Curtis Brown

Opening Number

Parade

Bad Cinderella

Parsons Dance

Kimberly Akimbo

National Tours

A Beautiful Noise

Chicago

Affiliate Organizations

The Lion King

The Lion King

The Phantom of the Opera

Hamilton

Ghost Light

Bonnie Milligan

Closing number

Lea Michele, Jessica Chastain, Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford

Lea Michele, Jessica Chastain, Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford

Fundraising total

Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond

Brandon Uranowitz, Carolee Carmello, Arian Moayed

J. Harrison Ghee and Christian Borle

Lindiwe Dlamini and Bongi Duma

Queens of Six

Stark Sands and Kimberly Marable

Will Swenson and Victoria Clark

Easter Bonnet judges