Starry Judges Roster Set for BC/EFA's 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition 4/27-28

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition on Monday, April 27 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, April 28 (2 PM) at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street). The proceeds from the event will benefit BC/EFA.

This year's EASTER BONNET COMPETITION will feature a rotating cast of hosts that are among Broadway's biggest stars. Stars scheduled to host include: Joan Allen (Impressionism), Danny Burstein (South Pacific), Andre De Shields (Impressionism), Tovah Feldshuh (Irena's Vow), Gavin Creel (Hair), Johanna Day (August: Osage County), Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins), Karen Olivo (West Side Story), Javier Munoz (In The Heights), Thomas Sadoski (reasons to be pretty), Will Swenson (Hair), and John Tartaglia (Shrek The Musical).

In addition, the show will feature a special appearance by BC/EFA longtime friend Doris Eaton Travis, the 105-year-old original Ziegfeld Follies Girl. Doris made her first appearance at the EASTER BONNET COMPETITION in 1998 and has been a highlight of many editions of the annual event.

Other special guests include Don Richard and Jen Cody reprising their beloved portrayals of Urinetown's ‘Officer Lockstock' and ‘Little Sally' and Andrea Burns (In The Heights) singing "Help Is On The Way," the official anthem of BC/EFA. 

At the Tuesday performance, the Easter Bonnet judges will include Laura Benanti (Why Torture Is Wrong and The People Who Love Them), Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek), Marsha Mason (Impressionism), Steven Pasquale (reasons to be pretty), Alice Ripley (Next to Normal), and the cast of God of Carnage: Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, and James Gandolfini.

This year's judges will be introduced by Exit The King's Andrea Martin and Geoffrey Rush.

The 2009 EASTER BONNET COMPETITION awards will be announced by Jane Fonda (33 Variations), Jeremy Irons (Impressionism), and Susan Sarandon (Exit The King).

Productions scheduled to present Bonnets include 33 Variations, Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Hair, Impressionism, Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, The Marvelous Wonderettes, Mary Poppins, Naked Boys Singing, The Phantom of the Opera, Shrek, West Side Story, and Wicked.

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.

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.

In addition to fundraising at the theatre, BC/EFA offers BONNET TEAM RAISER, an alternative way to participate in fundraising for the 23rd ANNUAL EASTER BONNET COMPETITION

BONNET TEAM RAISER allows theatre fans to make donations to BC/EFA via the Broadway Cares website (www.BroadwayCares.org), allowing theatre fans from across the globe to make donations to BC/EFA and be a part of the Easter Bonnet Competition festivities without having to go to the theatre. BONNET TEAM RAISER is one of several online competitions directly linked to established Broadway Cares events and found homepage of the Broadway Cares website under the "Event-A-Thon" link.

"Event-A-Thon" is the umbrella fundraising tool linking an online component to Broadway Cares' premiere, perennial events; Broadway Bares ("Strip-A-Thon"), Gypsy of the Year Competition ("Gypsy Team Raiser"), ABC & SOAPnet Salute Broadway Cares ("Soap-A-Thon") and the Easter Bonnet Competition ("Bonnet Team Raiser").

To make a donation via BONNET TEAM RAISER, click here

People who make donations via BONNET TEAM RAISER can enter to win the following prizes:

For a $10 donation, your name will be entered in a raffle to win a 2009 autographed matted EASTER BONNET COMPETITION poster.

For a $25 donation, your name will be entered in a raffle to win a 10th Anniversary autographed Playbill from Rent.

For a $50 donation, your name will be entered in a raffle to win a Shrek The Musical package featuring: a show poster signed by the Broadway company plus a personalized outgoing message on your voicemail from Christopher Sieber (Lord Farquaad).

For a $100 donation, your name will be entered in a raffle to win 2 VIP house seats to the show of your choice.

The contest is now live on the BC/EFA website. You reach it by clicking here.

23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition on Monday, April 27 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, April 28 (2:00 PM) at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street). The proceeds from the event will benefit BC/EFA.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes and other critical illnesses across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $150 million dollars for critically needed services for people with AIDS and other serious illnesses. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers' Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.

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.

The Easter Bonnet Competition is sponsored by: The New York Times and Continental Airlines, the official airline of BC/EFA,

For more information, please visit the BC/EFA website at www.broadwaycares.org.