Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is an American nonprofit organization that raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States, headquartered in New York City. It is the theatre community's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA has raised over $300 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, and other critical illnesses since its founding in 1988. The organization awards annual grants to over 450 AIDS and family service organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., and is the single largest financial supporter of the social service programs of The Actors Fund.
History Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was originally two separate organizations. In October 1987, the Council of Actors' Equity Association founded Equity Fights AIDS, and in February 1988, The Producers' Group founded Broadway Cares, both in response to the growing AIDS epidemic. The groups merged in May 1992, to form Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.Staff (March 23, 2011). Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Inc. Financial Statements September 30, 2010, and 2009. p. 7. EisnerAmper. Retrieved June 18, 2012. "Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Inc. (the "Organization") is a not-for-profit entity formed in 1993 in the State of New York...." The new organization was established as a not-for-profit fundraiser and took on the missions of the previous organizations.
At the 47th Tony Awards in 1993, it was awarded a Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre.
Tom Viola has run the organization as its executive director since 1996, but has been involved since its inception in 1988. In honor of his exceptional work at Broadway Cares, Viola was awarded a Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre at the 64th Tony Awards in 2010. Viola attributes the growth of the leading organization to the establishment of the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative in 1996.
Grants The organization's grant-making has two emphases. The first is Actors' Fund of America. Broadway Cares supports seven major social service programs at The Fund, each of which provides direct assistance to entertainment industry professionals and performing artists who are dealing with a variety of problems, including AIDS, HIV, and HIV-related issues. These seven social service programs are the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, the Actors Health Insurance Resource Center, the Actors Fund Work Program, the Stage Managers' Project and The Dancers' Resource. Since 1988, Broadway Cares has given $101 million to The Actors Fund.
The second major grant-making effort is the National Grants Program, through which the organization makes grants twice a year to more than 450 community-based AIDS Service organizations across the country in all 50 states. These grants total more than $10 million annually. Since 1988, more than $82 million has been given by BC/EFA to AIDS and family service organizations.
These ASOs include: Lifelong AIDS Alliance Navajo AIDS Network Project Open Hand San Francisco AIDS Foundation ActionAIDS AIDS Foundation Houston AIDS Foundation of Chicago Center for HIV Law and Policy Treatment Action Group San Antonio AIDS Foundation Mama's Kitchen Special Delivery San Diego RAIN Charlotte RAIN Oklahoma City Equitas Health
Fundraising Broadway Cares has two major fundraising periods, The Easter Bonnet Competition (in the spring) and The Red Bucket Follies Competition (previously known as The Gypsy of the Year Competition) in the Fall.DiLella, Frank (November 23, 2010). "The "Gypsy" in Us All: A Curtain Call To Action" . Playbill. Over six weeks of fund-raising shows on and Off-Broadway engage in a friendly competition to see which show can raise the most money for BC/EFA. Awards are presented to the shows raising the most money and to the winning presentation.
During this fundraising period, actors return to the stage after bows and ask patrons to donate as they leave the theater. Some actors have objected to this, because they oppose asking patrons for more money, or because they do not wish to break character. The shows are in competition to raise funds, and use various approaches, such as auctioning signed memorabilia, to raise more than other shows.
Easter Bonnet Easter Bonnet is an annual spring fundraiser in the theatre community, produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares. For six weeks, shows fundraise in their theaters, whether they are on Broadway, Off-Broadway, or touring. Volunteers and cast members hold red buckets after each performance and collect donations. Some shows sell autographed Playbills, posters, and props. Other shows offer auctions to meet the cast backstage or win an autographed prop. At the end of the six weeks, each show is invited to participate in the two-day Easter Bonnet competition. During this competition, performers from participating shows sing and dance while wearing their shows' unique "Easter Bonnets". Guest judges then choose award recipients for best bonnet design and performance.
The 2014 judges at the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition were Gregg Barnes, Christopher Hanke, Carly Rae Jepsen, Michael McKean, Jim Norton, Patrick Page, Annie Potts, Anthony Rapp, and two judges who won their spot on the panel through an auction at the 27th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction. The judges selected The Lion King for best presentation and Once for best bonnet design. The 2014 Easter Bonnet Competition raised $4,532,129.
The 2015 judges at the 29th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition were Actors Fund of America President and CEO Joseph Benincasa, Michael Cerveris and Judy Kuhn from Fun Home, Corey Cott and Vanessa Hudgens from Gigi, Robert Fairchild and director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon from An American in Paris, Judith Ivey and Rufus Wright from The Audience, and Nathaniel Parker from Wolf Hall Parts One & Two. Two additional judges, Jake Perlman and Peg Wendlandt, were high bidders at the 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction. The company of Avenue Q won the 2015 Best Presentation Award, and the company of Jersey Boys won the 2015 Best Design Award for their bonnet. The 2015 Easter Bonnet Competition raised $4,711,386.
On April 25 and 26, 2016, the 30th Annual event raised $5,528,568. Broadway's Hamilton raised the most money of any show ($516,029). An American in Paris won the Best Bonnet Design award. Performers included Stevie Nicks, Jennifer Hudson and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and the cast of Hamilton performing a remixed version of the opening number to Hamilton with lyrics about Sweeney Todd. of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
On April 24 and 25, 2017, the 31st Annual event raised $6,379,572. Sunset Boulevard raised the most money, followed by Sunday in the Park with George and Dear Evan Hansen. Celebrities included Patti LuPone, Bette Midler, Josh Groban and Ben Platt.
The 32nd Annual edition was held April 23 and 24, 2018. Celebrity presenters included Bernadette Peters, Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield. The show included performances by the casts of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton. Hamilton raised the most money of any show and a tour of Hamilton raised the most money of any tour. The 2015 Easter Bonnet Competition raised $5,721,879, with Hamilton as highest fundraiser with $402,083.
On April 22 and 23, 2019, the 33rd Annual edition was held at the Minskoff Theatre. The fundraising total of $6,594,778 was announced by Bryan Cranston, Kelli O'Hara, Glenda Jackson and Jeff Daniels. The top fundraiser was the Hamilton – And Peggy tour, which raised $513,734. Lin-Manuel Miranda made a surprise appearance to accept the award.
After a two-year hiatus, Broadway Cares' red buckets returned to theaters for a Spring Fundraising Campaign March 18 – May 1, 2022. Among the shows fundraising are Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Come From Away, Company, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Music Man, The Phantom of the Opera, SIX, Tina, and Wicked and the Off-Broadway productions of Jersey Boys, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Play That Goes Wrong.
In 2023, the 36th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition ran from March 10–23 raising $3,601,355. Announced by Annaleigh Ashford, Jessica Chastain, Josh Groban and Lea Michele, the award for top fundraiser went to & Juliet, followed by The Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Wicked and Funny Girl. A Doll's House was the top Broadway Play, raising $176,480.
The fundraising was celebrated with two days of performances at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. The award for best presentation went to the cast of The Lion King. First runner-up went to The Phantom of the Opera. The award for best bonnet design went to Chicago. Other participating shows included Parade, Bad Cinderella, Parsons Dance, Kimberly Akimbo, A Beautiful Noise, Some Like It Hot, Little Shop of Horrors, Six and Hamilton.
Red Bucket Follies (Prev. Gypsy of the Year) In 2018, the competition previously called "Gypsy of the Year" was renamed "Red Bucket Follies."
Every autumn (usually around the end of October until the first week of December), companies of Broadway, off-Broadway and national tours raise donations for Broadway Cares.
The 1st edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held on November 28, 1989, and was hosted by Jonathan Hadary and Tyne Daly. The first show raised $70,000.
The 21st edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held on December 10, 2009. Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman participated in the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fundraising event in New York, raising $1,549,953 from 6 weeks of curtain appeals at their hit Broadway drama, A Steady Rain. The 2009 Gypsy of the Year Competition raised $4,630,695.
The 25th edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held on December 9 and 10, 2013, at the Minskoff Theatre. Best Presentation was awarded to The Lion King for the second year in a row while Kinky Boots was celebrated as the top fundraiser, bringing in $377,301. The 25th annual event raised $4,343,234.
The 26th edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held on December 8 and 9, 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Best presentation was awarded to The Lion King for the third year in a row, while The River took the title as top fundraiser, having raised $549,725. It was followed by It's Only a Play. The event, which featured Hugh Jackman, Judith Light, Nathan Lane, and a 40th Anniversary Celebration of The Wiz, raised $5,229,611.
The 27th edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held on December 7 and 8, 2015, raised $4,786,239. The largest fundraiser was the "Latter Day" tour of The Book of Mormon with $344,643. The Lion King won best presentation. Wayne Brady, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson performed a freestyle rap. and the cast of Hamilton performed "Wait for It".
The 28th edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held on December 5 and 6, 2016, and raised $4,492,636 for Broadway Cares. Celebrities who appeared onstage included Cynthia Erivo, Jessie Mueller and Javier Munoz. The cast of Jersey Boys raised the most money, followed by Hamilton and the national tour of Wicked.
The 29th edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition was held December 4 and 5, 2017, and raised $5,609,211 for Broadway Cares. The largest fundraiser was Dear Evan Hansen followed by Hello, Dolly! and the Angelica tour of Hamilton. The company of Come From Away took top honors for best onstage presentation, and the runner-up was Aladdin. Celebrity appearances included Amy Schumer, Keegan-Michael Key, Noah Galvin, and Laura Benanti.