Broadway Raises $5.7 Million During Easter Bonnet Competition Fundraising

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has announced a fundraising grand total of $5,721,879 as part of its 32nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition at the Minskoff Theatre.

The near-record number was raised by 62 Broadway, off-Broadway, and national touring productions and was announced Tuesday, April 24, by Victor Garber and Bernadette Peters (Hello, Dolly!) and Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane (Angels in America). It is the second-highest total in Easter Bonnet Competition history, eclipsed only by last year's $6.4 million.

The Easter Bonnet Competition is the annual theater community celebration that ends six weeks of intensive fundraising efforts by dozens of Broadway, off-Broadway, and national touring productions. In addition to singing, dancing, and comedic skits, participating shows present creative and elaborate Easter bonnets made especially for the event. Awards are presented to the best presentation and best bonnet design across both performances as well as to the companies that raise the most money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Here's the breakdown of the fundraising leaders:

Broadway Musicals

Top Fundraiser: Hamilton, $402,083

1st Runner-Up: Hello, Dolly!, $315,562

Broadway Plays

Top Fundraiser: The Play That Goes Wrong, $84,504

1st Runner-Up: Angels in America, $76,226

Off-Broadway Plays and Musicals

Top Fundraiser: Jersey Boys, $63,784

1st Runner-Up: Avenue Q, $42,955

National Tours

Top Fundraiser: Hamilton – Angelica, $330,876

1st Runner-Up: The Book of Mormon – Jumamosi, $264,901

The award for best presentation went to the company of Wicked, who dedicated their performance to cast member Jerad Bortz and his husband Steven Skeels, who suffered a devastating car crash that left Bortz paralyzed from the chest down. Bortz donned the company's bonnet and led current and former cast members in an emotional rendition of "Dear Old Shiz." The award for best bonnet design went to SpongeBob SquarePants for its Bikini Bottom-inspired bonnet created by Martín Lara and Cate Goetschius.