Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has announced that the 2023 Easter Bonnet Competition will take place on April 24 and 25. The annual in-person event has been on a four-year pandemic-induced hiatus, but will return to the Minskoff Theatre for its 34th annual presentation next month. Further details will be announced.
The Easter Bonnet marks the end of the organization’s spring fundraising campaign, which begins March 10 and will continue through April 23. Donations will support Broadway Cares’ National Grants Program, which provides meals, healthcare and additional resources for those in need.
Traditionally, the Easter Bonnet ceremony includes songs, skits and a fashion show of hand-crafted easter bonnets by productions that participate in spring fundraising.
For the bi-annual fundraising campaign, company members appeal to audiences after the curtain call to solicit donations to Broadway Cares. Cast members and volunteers collect via signature red buckets as patrons exit the theater. Many shows also offer incentives, such as signed posters, in exchange for a specific monetary amount.
Last fall’s campaign broke its all-time record with a total of $5,107,79. Those funds have begun to be disbursed to various beneficiaries.
Shows slated to participate in the spring campaign are “& Juliet,” “A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical,” ”Aladdin,” “The Book of Mormon,” “Hadestown,” “Hamilton,” “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” “Kimberly Akimbo,” “The Lion King,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “SIX,” “Some Like It Hot” and “Wicked.” Several Off-Broadway shows and national tours are also participating.
