PHOTO CALL: The 2008 Easter Bonnet Competition

By Ernio Hernandez
April 30, 2008

The 22nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, was presented at the Minskoff Theatre April 28 and 29.

Tony Award winners Harvey Fierstein, Faith Prince and David Hyde Pierce announced the winners of the fundraising event as well as the best presentation awards at the April 29 performance.

Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions traditionally offer skits, songs and/or dances as well as a bonnet created specially for the competition.

Among the shows that presented bonnets this year were August: Osage County, Mary Poppins, Xanadu, South Pacific, Naked Boys Singing, Sunday in the Park with George, Spamalot, Spring Awakening, Mamma Mia!, The Lion King, In the Heights, Passing Strange, Hairspray, Gypsy, Rent, Dancers Responding to AIDS represented by MOMIX and the national tours of Jersey Boys and The Lion King. The Broadway companies of Wicked and Legally Blonde co-presented a bonnet.

Judging the competition were Sebastian Arcelus, Stephanie J. Block, Dylan Baker, Norm Lewis, Chris March, S. Epatha Merkerson, Matthew Morrison, general manager Albert Poland and casting director Bernie Telsey.

Also on hand was 104-year-old original Ziegfeld girl Doris Eaton Travis and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose. (For Playbill.com's recap of the competition, click here.)

Here are some photos from the event:

Harvey Fierstein and David Hyde Pierce		Stephanie J. Block

Matthew Morrison and Bernie Telsey		Albert Poland and S. Epatha Merkerson

Members of the opening number

Anika Noni Rose		Doris Eaton Travis

Naked Boys Singing 's bonnet		Rent's bonnet

In the Heights's bonnet		In the Heights cast members

A bonnet entry		Spamalot's bonnet and Clay Aiken

The winners take a bow

All photos by Aubrey Reuben.