VIDEO: WICKED Performs for Jerad Bortz at the EASTER BONNET COMPETITION

By: Apr. 30, 2018
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Humor, hope and heart were at the core of the performances at the 32nd annual Easter Bonnet Competition, which raised $5,721,879 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Wicked dedicated their performance to cast member Jerad Bortz and his husband Steven Skeels, who suffered a devastating car crash that left Bortz paralyzed from the chest down. Watch the video!

The near-record number was raised by 62 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions and was announced Tuesday, April 24, 2018, by Victor Garber and Bernadette Peters (Hello, Dolly!) and Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane (Angels in America). It's the second-highest total in Easter Bonnet Competition history, eclipsed only by last year's astonishing $6.4 million.

This year's Easter Bonnet Competition (#BroadwayBonnets), which celebrated six weeks of spring fundraising at theatres across New York City and across the country, took place on April 23 and 24 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre, home to Disney's The Lion King. The production featured memorable performances and 20 exquisite, handcrafted bonnets, created and presented by many of Broadway and Off-Broadway's favorite shows.

This year's top fundraising award went to Broadway's Hamilton, which raised $402,083.

In addition to announcing the fundraising total, Garber, Garfield, Lane and Peters also presented awards for best presentation and best bonnet design.

The award for best presentation went to the company of Wicked, who dedicated their performance to cast member Jerad Bortz and his husband Steven Skeels, who suffered a devastating car crash that left Bortz paralyzed from the chest down. Bortz donned the company's bonnet and led current and former cast members in an emotional rendition of "Dear Old Shiz."

The company of Escape to Margaritaville was the runner up for amiably contrasting the easy-going beach life levity of their show with the subtlety of The Band's Visit, complete with guest appearances by three band members.

The award for best bonnet design went to SpongeBob SquarePants for its Bikini Bottom-inspired bonnet created by Martín Lara and Cate Goetschius.



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