BC/EFA Easter Bonnet to Take Place on April 24 and 25

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids celebrates its 20th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition scheduled for April 24 at 4:30pm and April 25 at 2pm. The event will be held at the New Amsterdam Theatre, current home of Broadway's The Lion King. BC/EFA is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund-raising and grant-making organization.

Each year, the companies and personnel of dozens of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring productions contribute to the program by presenting skits, songs, and/or dances as well as submitting an original bonnet created for the competition. The benefit concludes a six-week fundraising drive by several Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring shows. Fundraising efforts include auctions, one-night only cabaret shows, curtain call speeches, and selling autographed souvenir show merchandise, which bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars from audiences prior to the competition.

The company that raises the highest amount of donations for BC/EFA is awarded a prize at the Easter Bonnet Competition, with a second prize to the company who wins the best bonnet creative design and presentation. Prizes are also awarded to the Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national tour productions that raise the most money.

Over 40 participating companies broke records by raising over $2.8 million at last year's competition. For more information on this event and BC/EFA, visit www.broadwaycares.org or call (212) 840-0770. The New Amsterdam Theatre is located at 214 West 42nd Street.