It is 24 years since the first Easter Bonnet took place in the basement of the Palace Theatre and raised $1,200. Now, in 2010, over 300 shows on Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring have raised a remarkable $3,265,700!
The Gaga themed opening introduced 106 year old former Ziegfeld showgirl Doris Eaton Travis, as Queen Bunny in her Basket of Egg-mobile. From there on it was non-stop stars and entertainment starting with Jan Maxwell and Dylan Baker, Corbin Bleu and Michael Urie, Chad Kimball and Constantine Maroulis and presenters Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan Lane and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The funnies flew as they roasted and toasted the obvious: Michael Feinstein & Dame Edna, Sarah Palin (she gets the most free press of anyone), even Stephen Sondheim. The three young kids from South Pacific had their fair share of zingers reading what they learned being on Broadway, including: “You don’t have to be gay to work here, but you do have to be fabulous!”
The special material presented by the various Broadway companies and bonnets made by the cast and crews didn’t seem quite as elaborate as previous years, but many were memorable, like Jim Brochu currently starring in his one man show “Zero Hour” who, with the help of other performers did a parody of “Tradition” while building a creative bonnet from a black hat while performing.
A special tribute to the West Virginia coal miners who perished was presented by the cast of “Billy Elliot,” while the cast of “Next Fall”did an imitation of their producer Elton John to parodied “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with a more risqué lyric. Funny man Leslie Jordan (My Trip Down the Pink Carpet), wearing a giant pink top hat with netting, told the story of how his Army Dad (they lived in Tennessee) went searching for a bride doll for him at Christmas when he was 3 years old and when it was given to him, he was so excited that all he could do was squat on the floor and pee.
“Memphis" performed a ballet version of "The Hurt Locker" called "Love Terrorists," with cast members in camo outfits, their bonnet a bomb that exploded into a heart. Yes, if all the terrorists could only be taught to love instead of hate. . .
The winning bonnet came from “Fela” and “Wicked” scored big as the largest fundraiser.
BCEFA. . . Congratulations! You’ve come a long way since those days in the Palace Theatre basement !
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