WICKED is Top Earner for 2010 BC/EFA Easter Bonnet Competition

The 24th ANNUAL EASTER BONNET COMPETITION was a great success with an astounding, $3,265,700 being raised this year by the 64 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies benefiting Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. Since it began in 1987, the 23 editions of the EASTER BONNET COMPETITION have raised over $42 million for BC/EFA.

Nathan Lane (The Addams Family), Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (A Little Night Music) were on hand to present the awards for top fund raising companies and the outstanding bonnet presentation.

The company of Memphis took top honors for bonnet presentation while Next Fall was runner up.

This year's fundraising award winners were:

Top Fundraising Award: Wicked - Munchkinland Tour $251,332

Broadway Awards:
Forth Runner-up The Lion King $114,684
Third Runner-up In the Heights $117,660
Second Runner-up Billy Elliot the Musical $134,642
First Runner-up The Phantom of the Opera $153,444
Top Broadway Fundraiser Wicked $208,880

National Touring Shows:

Third Runner-up Mary Poppins $128,553
Second Runner-up Wicked - San Francisco $131,815
First Runner-up Jersey Boys - Sherry Tour $142,434
Top Tour Fundraiser Wicked - Emerald City Tour $239,883

A special award was also given to the top fundraising Broadway Play, Next Fall ($49,946) and for Off-Broadway company, Avenue Q ($22,326).

The results of this year's bonnet presentation were:
First Runner-up: Next Fall
Winner : Memphis

The special award for bonnet design was given to Fela!. The winning bonnet was created by Alfi McClendon, Chon Judson, Jill Vallery, Rujeko Dumbutshena, and Catherine Foster.

The EASTER BONNET COMPETITION got started with a sizzling, high energy 50-person opening number, "Broadway Goes Gaga," with choreography by Shea Sullivan, associate choreographer Pamela Remler, direction by Nick Demos, music direction by Ben Cohn and lyrics by Bill Russell, offering Broadway as Lady Gaga would have it. As the stage flooded with dancers, the number culminated with the presentation of the opening bonnet featuring "the eternal Gaga", 106-year old Ziegfeld Follies dancer, Doris Eaton Travis. This is Ms. Travis' 12th EASTER BONNET appearance.
With a tribute to the original EASTER BONNET COMPETITION which was hosted by the original production of La Cage aux Folles in the basement of the Palace Theatre, the "the notorious and dangerous Cagelles" from the current revival offered a high style Broadway drag fashion show and sassy commentary.

Corbin Bleu, star of High School Musical was featured in two presentations, with his cast mates from In the Heights in "Heights Cool Musical" and in a special presentation by R.Evolución Latina called "Daring to say Thank You."

The company of Wicked paid tribute to the Broadway Green Alliance with "Let's Recycle" led by the environmentally friendly super hero, "Captain Green" and featuring "green versions" of Annie, Evita, Rum-Tum-Tugger and many more iconic Broadway characters.

With "All I Really Need to Know I Learned on Broadway", the children of South Pacific offered sage advice like, "What happens in the hair room, STAYS in the hair room!" 

A moment of silence was followed by "Peace in the Valley" sung by the cast of Million Dollar Quartet.

The cast of Billy Elliot paid tribute to the victims of Montcoal, West Virginia Mining Disaster of April 5, 2010 with the stunning and moving "The Stars Look Down... in West Virginia."
The National Tour Bonnet presentation, "Broadway Cares Love Affair," featured choreography by Melissa Mahon and Sean McKnight and shared, "a surprising glimpse into love and life on the road."
From My Trip Down the Pink Carpet, Leslie Jordan's presentation offered a side-splittingly funny tale of a gay three-year old dreaming of the ultimate Christmas gift, a life-sized bride doll.
Montego Glover, star of this season's Memphis, sang the EASTER BONNET anthem, "Help is on the Way."

With other fabulous presentations from The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Zero Hour, Dancers Responding to AIDS, Fela! and The Lion King.

This year's EASTER BONNET COMPETITION hosts included Dylan Baker (God of Carnage), Corbin Bleu (In The Heights), Colman Domingo (The Scottsboro Boys), Chad Kimball (Memphis), Ron Kunene (The Lion King), Leigh Ann Larkin (A Little Night Music), Tshidi Manye (The Lion King), Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages), Jan Maxwell (Lend Me A Tenor), Laura Osnes (South Pacific), Emily Padgett (Rock of Ages), Loretta Ables Sayre (South Pacific), and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals).

The Easter Bonnet judges included Dan Butler (The Irish Curse), Jennifer Cody (Shrek The Musical), James Claffey, Jr. (President / Local One - IATSE), Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises), Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins), Beth Leavel (Mamma Mia!), Janet McTeer (God of Carnage), Alfred Molina (Red), Brian Stokes Mitchell (President of The Actors Fund of America), and Chris March ("Project Runway").

The Easter Bonnet judges were introduced by Million Dollar Quartet stars: Hunter Foster, Robert Britton Lyons and Elizabeth Stanley.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised over $175 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

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.

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