Easter Bonnet Competition Pulls in $3.6 Million for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

Broadway raised $3,677,855 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at the 26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition. Culminating in six weeks worth of fundraising efforts, the tally was announced April 24 at the Minskoff Theatre.

Ricky Martin (Evita), Audra McDonald (Porgy and Bess) and Eric McCormack (The Best Man) announced the competition winners of the two-day event. The company of The Lion King took top honors for bonnet presentation, with the Mary Poppins team earning the runner-up spot. The special award for bonnet design was rewarded to Mamma Mia! The top fundraising award went to The Book of Mormon, which raised $286,725.

This year’s hosts included Stockard Channing, Judith Light and Stacy Keach (Other Desert Cities), Gavin Creel (Hair), Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), Raven-Symoné (Sister Act) Nick Jonas, Michael Urie and Rob Bartlett (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Corbin Bleu, Lindsay Mendez and George Salazar (Godspell) and Selloane Nkhela and Ron Kunene (The Lion King).

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes and other critical illnesses across the United States. The 25 previous editions of the Easter Bonnet Competition have raised more than $46 million.