Theater News

Bryan Cranston, Idina Menzel, Denzel Washington, and More Set for the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition

James Franco, Ramin Karimloo, Andy Karl, and Jessie Mueller will also be on hand.

All the Way's Bryan Cranston will participate in 2014's annual Easter Bonnet competition.
All the Way's Bryan Cranston will participate in 2014's annual Easter Bonnet competition.
(© David Gordon)

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has announced celebrity participants for the April 21 and 22 Easter Bonnet Competition. Bryan Cranston (All the Way), Fran Drescher (Rodgers Hammerstein's Cinderella), Idina Menzel (If/Then), and Denzel Washington (A Raisin in the Sun) will announce the top fundraising and best presentation awards at the Tuesday performance. James Franco and his Of Mice and Men costars, Chris O'Dowd and Leighton Meester, will introduce the competition's judges.

Additional stars set to appear onstage include Brandon Victor Dixon (Motown The Musical), Hunter Foster (The Bridges of Madison County), Ramin Karimloo (Les Misérables), Andy Karl (Rocky), Ron Kunene (The Lion King), LaChanze (If/Then), Tshidi Manye (The Lion King), Jefferson Mays (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Cass Morgan (The Bridges of Madison County), Jessie Mueller (Beautiful), Bryce Pinkham (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder), Christopher Sieber (Matilda The Musical), and Karen Ziemba (Bullets Over Broadway).

Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon) and original Matilda Sophia Gennusa will appear in the original opening number, directed and choreographed by Al Blackstone. Hugh Panaro (The Phantom of the Opera) will close the show with the traditional performance of "Help Is on the Way," BC/EFA's Easter Bonnet anthem. The show will also include a special appearance by Kim Zimmer (Wicked) in the national touring show presentation, choreographed by Adam Fleming.

The Easter Bonnet judges will include costume designer Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots) and actors Christopher Hanke (Buyer & Cellar), Carly Rae Jepsen (Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella), Michael McKean (All the Way), Jim Norton (Of Mice and Men), Patrick Page (Casa Valentina), Annie Potts (Pippin), and Anthony Rapp (If/Then). Also joining the judging panel are Eric Forst and Peg Wendlandt, who won their spots by being high bidders on exclusive VIP packages at the 27th annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction in September.

The Easter Bonnet Competition is a benefit event that features the companies of Broadway, off-Broadway, and touring productions singing, dancing, and donning elaborate original bonnets.

For tickets to the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, click here.