24th Annual Easter Bonnet

I had a great chance on Monday to see the 24th Annual Easter Bonnet performance.  Celebrating the fund raising efforts of most Broadway, Off-Broadway and National Touring companies for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS . Several show companies put on skits and made a "bonnet" to present at the competition.  

The casts and crews of these shows spent 6 weeks fund raising through curtain speeches, auctions and the sale of autographed items.  It's all in fun and everyone knows the main goal is to raise the money to help those who are infected with HIV and AIDS.  This year, the competition raised $3,275,600!  Check out the article at Broadway World for a full run down of the show. 

I wasn't there for the actual competition (that was Tuesday) but, these were my highlights:

--The Lady Gaga inspired opening number which introduced Doris Eaton Travis.  This woman is 106!  She still looks great and didn't need much help to walk and KICK on that stage.

                                                            

--The Phantom skit with Meg trying to kill Christine and mistakenly getting Raoul and the Phantom instead.  When she finally gets her target, it caps off with, "Who says love never dies?"  A funny mention to the critically drubbed sequel playing in London.  

--Leslie Jordan wearing a giant pink top "bonnet" and doing a bit from his show "My Trip Down the Pink Carpet."

--The cast of Billy Elliot had a very sweet tribute to the West Virginia miners who were lost in the mining disaster on April 5th.  It had the biggest emotional punch in what was a pretty casual and funny show.  I saw Billy Elliot about a week after the disaster and, during the cast's curtain speech, it was announced that half of the money they raised was going to relief for the victims and families of this tragedy.  Sweet tribute, indeed!

--The cast of Memphis had a really great presentation with a number called "Love Terrorists."  A call to "kill" and "torture" people with love and kindness and opposed to the other way.  Backed up by a great ensemble of dancers, this was probably the most powerful of all the performances.

--I think my favorite had to be the number by the cast of Next Fall.  A hilarious skit with the entire cast that basically asked, "Who the hell are these people and how did they get into a Broadway show?"  The cast answered back by singing about their rich producer, Elton John, to the tune of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me."  My favorite because it was funny as hell!

--Montego Glover (she's starring in Memphis) closed out the show with a beautiful rendition of "Help is On the Way."  A great anthem to drive home why all of this was done.

Because of the nature of the event, you couldn't say anything was really good or bad.  Of course there were a few "winners":

1)  Wicked raised the most money ($208,880)

2)  Fela! was awarded best "bonnet" design

3)  Memphis was given the award for best performance (although, they had my favorite "bonnet") 

A great year for BC/EFA and a great show!  Here's hoping they can raise even more for next year.

Until next time...