The 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition Breaks Fundraising Record
(© David Gordon)
Tony winners Idina Menzel and Denzel Washington joined Broadway newcomers Bryan Cranston and Fran Drescher on Tuesday to announce the total amount raised by the 28th annual Easter Bonnet Competition. The event raised $4,532,129 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
The Minskoff Theatre, current home to Disney’s The Lion King, was packed as Cranston, Drescher, Menzel, and Washington presented awards to the companies who raised the most as well as to the winner for most outstanding bonnet design and presentation.
The Lion King won best bonnet presentation. After Midnight took runner-up honors for a crowd-pleasing number set in a speakeasy. The special award for bonnet design was given to the company of Once for its bonnet, created by Becky Bodurtha.
This year's top fundraisers were Kinky Boots (Broadway musical), All the Way (Broadway play), The Book of Mormon (national touring show), and Avenue Q (off-Broadway).
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 theater community, BC/EFA has raised more than $250 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States since 1988.
