The 22nd annual Easter Bonnet competition raised a record-breaking $3,734,129 this year for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, an industry-based nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organisation. The figure is a culmination of a six-week fundraising and bonnet design effort by Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour company members.
The bonnet presentation award was won by Sunday in the Park, and The Lion King was cited for being one of the biggest fund-raisers..
The 2008 winners were announced April 29 at the Minskoff Theatre. Below are several:
Runners-up for fundraising (all Broadway musicals): Monty Python's Spamalot ($264,900), Wicked ($197,889), The Phantom of The Opera ($151,267) and The Lion King ($147,283).
Runners-up for best bonnet and skit: Naked Boys Singing and The Lion King (tie) and In the Heights.
Special award for Best Designed and Constructed Bonnet: Passing Strange (designed by Susan Goulet and Rebecca Naomi Jones, inspired by Kevin Adams).
