Theater News

BC/EFA Easter Bonnet Competition Raises Over $3.6 Million

(© Tristan Fuge)
(© Tristan Fuge)

The finale of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ 26th annual Easter Bonnet Competition was held on Tuesday, April 24 at the Minskoff Theatre, celebrating six weeks of fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring shows.
In total, $3,677,855 was raised for the organization.


Broadway stars Ricky Martin, Audra McDonald and Eric McCormack made the presentation to the top fundraisers and contest winners.


The Book of Mormon raised the most money of any show, bringing in 286, 725. Other top fundraisers including the touring and Broadway companies of Wicked, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, The Phantom of the Opera, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Other Desert Cities.


The winner for the Best Bonnet went to Mamma Mia!, while the winner for Best Bonnet Presentation went to The Lion King. The runner-up for Best Bonnet Presentation was Mary Poppins.


The Easter Bonnet judges included Broadway stars Nina Arianda, Adam Chanler-Berat, Hugh Dancy, Megan Hilty, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Frank Wood, along with comedian Lisa Lampanelli, costume designer Carrie Robbins, United Airlines’ senior vice president of corporate and government affairs Mark Anderson, and Karen Walter, who won her spot with her bid at the 25th annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.


Presenters at the event included Rob Bartlett, Corbin Bleu, Gavin Creel, Julie Halston, Nick Jonas, Jeremy Jordan, Stacy Keach, Ron Kunene, Judith Light, Lindsay Mendez, Jerry O’Connell,.Rory O’Malley, George Salazar, Raven-Symone, and Michael Urie. In addition, Tituss Burgess closed the show with the Easter Bonnet anthem “Help is on the Way.”


Other celebrities who participated in the event included Christie Brinkley, John Glover, Ann Harada, Matthew Risch, Amra Faye-Wright, and Tony Yazbeck.


Productions which performed and present bonnets included Anything Goes, The Awesome 80s Prom, Avenue Q, Chicago, Death of a Salesman, and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, among others.