Theater News

McGovern, Easter Bonnets, and Showtime Help Raise Money for BC/EFA

Maureen McGovern
Maureen McGovern

Theater lovers have three different opportunities to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) this month. On Sunday, April 10, Showtime will host a benefit screening of its musical film Reefer Madness, based on the short-lived 2001Off-Broadway musical (which itself was based on the legendary 1936 anti-marijuana film of the same title). Reefer Madness stars Christian Campbell and his sister Neve Campbell, along with Broadway’s Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, Steven Weber, and Kristen Bell. The event will begin with a 6pm screening at the Directors Guild of America Theater (110 West 57th Street), followed by a reception at Tao (42 East 58th Street). The film will debut on Showtime on Saturday, April 16.

On Monday, April 11 at 9pm, Maureen McGovern — currently starring as Marmee in Little Women — will give a solo concert entitled One Enchanted Evening at Birdland (315 West 44th Street). A two-time Grammy Award nominee, with hit recordings of two Oscar-winning songs to her credit (“The Morning After” and “We May Never Love Like This Again”), McGovern is also known for her Broadway appearances in The Pirates of Penzance, Nine, and 3 Penny Opera. Tickets for her concert at Birdland are priced at $25 (bar seating), $60 (table seating), and $500 for a special VIP package which also includes two house seats to Little Women and a private post-performance meeting with the star. (There is also a $10-per-person food and drink minimum at Birdland.)

One of BC/EFA’s most highly anticipated events, the annual Easter Bonnet Competition, will take place this year at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street) on Monday, April 18 at 4:30pm and Tuesday, April 19 at 2pm. The companies of more than 20 Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring shows will show off their specially created hats at this event, which marks the culmination of six weeks of fund-raising for BC/EFA. (Last year’s event raised more than $3.4 million for the organization.) Tickets range in price from $20 to $350.

Call 212-840-0770 for tickets and information on all events.