Everybody Cares!

Nick Adams, Andrea Burns, Gavin Creel, Andre De Shields, Jane Fonda, Norm Lewis, Liza Minnelli, Susan Sarandon, John Tartaglia and more lend their star power to Broadway Cares' annual Easter Bonnet Competition.

By Tristan Fuge,Brian Scott Lipton • Apr 29, 2009 • New York City

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' held its 23rd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition at the Minskoff Theatre on April 27 and 28. Tuesday's star-studded performance included a surprise appearance by Liza Minnelli in the opening number.

The ever-popular Norm Lewis was also in the opening, along with Broadway stars Aisha de Haas, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Julia Murney, and Seth Rudetsky.

The cast of the long-running musical Chicago spoofed all the shows that ran in January in the amusing "Chopping Block Tango."

Impressionism co-star Andre De Shields showed off the impressive bonnet designed by Del Miskie.

The cast of Wicked used Stephen Sondheim's "More" for a clever take-off on the so-called Octomom.

The Lion King cast presented a rip-roaring number that paid tribute to the show's upcoming sit-down production at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay.

Avenue Q alum (and current Shrek star) John Tartaglia joined Benjamin Schrader and Rod in a parody version of "You're Nothing Without Me" (from City of Angels).

Oscar winner Jane Fonda spoofed her own 1980s workout videos in 33 Variations' skit, which won the award for Best Bonnet Presentation. The show also won the competition's other two top awards: Best Bonnet Design and Top Broadway Fundraiser (with a total of $183,546).

The Little Mermaid's Trevor Braun decried the perils of typecasting before belting out a killer rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls.

Gavin Creel and the cast of Hair spoofed the Internet dating world with their "BroadwayMatch.com" skit.

The cast of Billy Elliot, led by Gregory Jbara, helped 105-year-old former Ziegfeld Follies star Doris Eaton Travis as she performed "Ballin' the Jack," which has become an Easter Bonnet tradition.

Guys and Dolls co-star Nick Adams showed off his incredible physique as well as the show's inventive bonnet.

In the Heights star Andrea Burns sang the show's anthem, David Friedman's stirring "Help Is on the Way," with some lyrics in Spanish.

Exit the King star Susan Sarandon, who joined Fonda and Jeremy Irons in announcing the event's winners, made a very moving speech about the early days of the AIDS crisis.

The cast of Distracted, led by Cynthia Nixon, won the award for Top Off-Broadway Fundraiser. In total, the 58 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies raised a remarkable $3,402,147!