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by Michael Portantiere

Spring in Their Steps


  • Spring in Their Steps

    The Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Easter Bonnet Competition seems to take place later and later each year, as one of this year's participants joked. But the 2009 edition of the fabled event raised a whopping $3,402,147 for BC/EFA -- this in the midst of a terrible economy -- so no one is complaining. Here are some of my pics of what went on at the Minskoff Theatre on Tuesday, April 28.

    ********************

    1-Opening1a.jpg

    The opening number, "Broadway, Don't You Bring Me No Bad News," featured such fabulous folks as Aisha De Haas...

    1-Opening2.jpg

    ...Heidi Blickenstaff, Susan Blackwell, Seth Rudetsky, Julia Murney...

    1-Opening3-a.jpg

    ...the golden-voiced Norm Lewis...

    1-Opening4.jpg

    ...and the one and only Liza Minnelli.

    2-Guys&Dolls.jpg

    This amazing bonnet was worn by the amazing Nick Adams, from the cast of Guys and Dolls.

    4-Shrek2.jpg

    The company of Shrek imagined what it would be like if characters from other musicals, such as The Little Mermaid, were as flatulent as the title character of their own show.

    4-Shrek3-a.jpg
    John Tartaglia, who plays Pinocchio in Shrek, sported that show's Easter bonnet.

    6-Chicago.jpg

    The cast of Chicago offered a version of the "Cell Block Tango" that bitterly lamented all of the shows that closed in January.

    8-Wicked-a.jpg

    The company of Wicked did a rude but hilarious sketch about the octomom.

    9-LionKing1a.jpg

    The company of The Lion King let us see what the Vegas company of their show might look like if it boasted such inappropriate stars as....

    9-LionKing2.jpg

    ...Tina Turner and...

    9-LionKing3.jpg

    ...Kanye West. I don't know, it looks pretty good to me!

    10-LockstockSally-a.jpg

    As usual, Officer Lockstock and Little Sally were on hand to make snarky comments on just about everything.

    12-WSS1.jpg

    The company of West Side Story, with bonnet.

    13-MammaMia.jpg

    The company of Mamma Mia! in "The Rose."

    15-33Variations2.jpg

    Jane Fonda and the cast of 33 Variations offered a glimpse at one of their "voluntary rehearsals."

    16-LittleMermaid.jpg

    Trevor Braun, from the cast of "The Little Mermaid," gave a no-holds-barred rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls. You go, white boy!

    17-Hair.jpg

    This photo of the Hair company's presentation speaks for itself!

    18-DorisEatonTravis.jpg

    Former Ziegfeld girl Doris Eaton Travis, now 105 years young, made her traditional Easter Bonnet appearance to a heartfelt standing ovation and then performed "Balling the Jack" with the company of Billy Elliot.

    19-Finale.jpg

    Jane Fonda was ebullient during the show's finale -- not surprising, since it was announced that her show, 33 Variations, won all three of the afternoon's major awards: for bonnet, presentation, and number-one fundraiser!


    Published on Wednesday, April 29, 2009


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


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