At the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, 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.”
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.
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).
Wicked Fundraising coordinators: the company of Wicked
Our Days At Dear Old Shiz
Written by William Ryall, Brian Munn, Jerad Bortz
Music Direction by Garrett Taylor
Music and Original Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Arrangements by Alex Lacamoire and Stephen Oremus
Stage Manager: Jen Ash
Easter Bonnet created by William Ryall, David Elledge and the Wicked wardrobe team
Performers: Katie Adams, Ioana Alfonso, Todd Anderson, Amanda Jane Cooper, Michael DeVries, Christine Dwyer, Teneise Ellis, Peter Ermides, Tess Ferrell, Jye Frasca, Courtney Iventosch, Spencer Jones, Isabel Keating, Katie Ladner, Marissa Lupp, Sterling Masters, Raymond Matsamura, Brian Munn, Mark Myers, Lindsey Northen, Nathan Peck, Danny Quadrino, Casey Quinn, Jonathan Ritter, William Ryall, Carla Stickler, Marty Thomas, Mariand Torres, Betsy Werbel, Laura Woyasz
Special thanks to The Actors Fund, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the army of friends who have donated time, love or money to support our dear Jerad Bortz and his husband, Steven Skeels
The Easter Bonnet Competition is the culmination of six weeks of spring fundraising efforts by company members of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions. Casts, crews and volunteers at participating shows stood with Broadway Cares’ signature #redbuckets in hand at theatre exits to accept donations, in addition to selling signed Playbills, posters and other special treasures.
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Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS awards grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. and is the largest single financial supporter of the social service programs of The Actors Fund, helping everyone in entertainment and the performing arts.
Broadway Cares hosts two six-week-long fundraising campaigns in theatres across the country every year, one leading up to the Easter Bonnet Competition in April and the other leading up to the Red Bucket Follies in December. Broadway Cares also produces annual fundraising events in New York City, including Broadway Backwards, Broadway Bares and the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.
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