Sweeney Todd's Michael Cerveris, The Light in the Piazza's Victoria Clark, The Pajama Game's Kelli O'Hara and Michael McKean, The Color Purple's Felicia Fields, The Odd Couple's Rob Bartlett and all four Jersey Boys will all be on hand as hosts for the annual fundraiser.
The two-day spectacular (April 24 at 4:30 PM and April 25 at 2 PM) features the companies of various Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions, and the shows offer skits, songs and/or dances as well as bonnets created specially for the competition.
The Easter Bonnet Competition ends a six-week period of intensive fundraising by the assorted Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Curtain speeches, autographed posters and program sales, auctions and cabaret performances are all part of the fundraising effort, which brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company that raises the most funds for BC/EFA will be awarded a prize at the Easter Bonnet Competition. A second prize will be awarded to the company with the best bonnet design and presentation. Additional awards will be presented to the Broadway play, national tour and Off-Broadway production raising the most money.
Last year's competition raised a record-breaking $2,849,067 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund-raising and grant-making organization.
Tickets for the event are priced $350 VIP orchestra (front and center); $200 priority orchestra (middle and side); $100 rear orchestra and front mezzanine; $40 mezzanine; and $20 balcony. Those interested in attending the event should call (212) 840-0770, ext. 268 or visit www.broadwaycares.org.
The New Amsterdam Theatre is located at 214 West 42nd Street.