For those of you who missed this year's Easter Bonnet Competition, never fear. I'm about to fill you in on one of the hottest tickets of any Broadway or Off Broadway season.

BROADWAY CARE/EQUITY FIGHTS A.I.D.S. is a charitable organization with a clearly stated goal to fight the ravages of H.I.V. disease. BC/EFA has collected and distributed millions of dollars to help those in need with variety of services. One of the many ways BC/EFA raises money to fulfill its noble task is through its annual fund-raiser, "The Easter Bonnet Competition." This crazy idea was the brainchild some years back of a few chorus kids from the company of Jerry Herman's LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. Over the twelve years of madcap competitions, long running shows, such as THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and MISS SAIGON, have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. New shows, such as THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL and R & J, contribute generously as well.

BC/EFA raises funds by enlisting cast members of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows to solicit small, but significant donations from their generous audiences. You may have spotted actors and dancers moonlighting in the theater lobby of a show you've recently attended. They generally ask for your help while passing out those famous red ribbons. And, as we all know, the blush of a young cheek has been know to wrench open even the tightest of purses.

The weeks prior to the competition are devoted to preparation for the competition. Behind the scenes, creative teams of participating companies busy themselves madly in preparation for the big day. Talent from various design departments join in to create their own, individual head trip. These millinery marvels are then presented within the framework of a performance piece which captures the essence of (and often lampooning) the show whence it comes. These skits are performed at the competition and judged by a select group of Broadway luminaries. Prizes go to the best bonnet presentation as well as the Broadway and Off-Broadway company raking in the most mullah. You might look at it as the Kentucky Derby of the Great White Way.

Bonnet '98 started off with a bang. Our video crew arrived to find the energy swirling at the Monday morning rehearsal, just hours before the preview performance that night. (Years ago, Bonnet was only a one day affair). Bonnet got a new home, this year. The festivities were moved from the Palace Theatre to the recently refurbished New Amsterdam Theatre, home of Disney's THE LION KING. A house steeped in history, the New Amsterdam has been transported back to its original luster, replete with art nouveau accents. This new setting gives one the sense of swimming under the warm glow of a Tiffany lamp. You could almost feel the presence of the Great Ziegfeld himself, the theatre's original tenant. Such nostalgia would not be laid to waste.

The big show on Tuesday afternoon opened with a song and dance interpretation of producers Michael Graziano's and Tom Viola's change of address quandary, culminating in one of the most touching moments in recent Broadway history. Five larger-than-life photos of Ziegfeld Follies showgirls of a bygone era floated across the boards. From behind these towering placards stepped out the ladies as they are today. Adorned in sequins and lamé, the golden girls brought the house to its feet, just like the old days. As the seasoned citizens were escorted off stage, Doris Eaton Travis, a 94-year-old Follies veteran from 1918 to 1921, grabbed a microphone and stopped the band. "Mr. Conductor, would you do an old Follies girl a favor? I would like to dance the same dance routine that I danced on this very stage seventy-nine years ago..." With a wave of the conductor's baton, Ms. Travis tapped out her rusty routine of "Mandy" as if she were that fifteen-year-old hoofer of way back when. The audience raised the roof with thunderous applause. You can be sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

A dancing Follies girl is certainly a tough act to follow, but directors Sam Ellis and Tom Viola kept things bright and breezy. This year's Bonnet was hosted by many theater notables including Tyne Daly, Rebecca Luker, Debra Monk and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Some of my own favorite skits were the following: from The Life we had a rollicking super-pimp spin with Motown sounds (to the tune of "Shaft") and the latest in pimpware; When Pigs Fly offered up a high-heeled parody of Ragtime's "On The Wheels of a Dream" called "The Heels of a Queen"; The Metropolitan Opera participated with a tour de force in vocal acrobatics, Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back lampooned Judge Judy with brazen conviction; 1776 passed on a revolutionary declaration to Broadway angel Rosie O'Donnell; and, Titanic sent out a compassionate signal in loving simplicity, drawing a moving parallel between those who went down with the ship and those who have been taken down with A.I.D.S. Honorable mention should go to the folks of TARGET stores, the houseware chain. Not only did they produce a hefty check for $300,000 to BC/EFA, their design team demonstrated that egg-beaters and wisk-brooms can make stunning head-gear as well. Not all shows participated with bonnets and performance pieces, but they did help raise funds for BC/EFA. Their efforts did not go unnoticed or unacclaimed.

The final moments of The Easter Bonnet Competition brought the judges' decision and a two big names to present them. A buoyant Nathan Lane and the lively Liza Minnelli wafted out on stage with envelopes in hand. After a few zany quips the suspense came to an end. Plaques were handed down to the first three runner-up companies in the fund raising category, but it was the kids from RENT who brought in the highest figure. The Off Broadway company to garner this laurel was AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN. The dollar figure for all participating shows totaled 1,793,137, a new record. Capturing the prize for the best bonnet and presentation was the company of 1776 with their rendition of "Big Spender." I must say, I agreed with the judges' opinion.

What a night for BC/EFA. What a sensation it was to be there, once again. Now, you have an inkling of what you missed. But, let me offer you more. Videos of "The Easter Bonnet Competition" just happen to be available to the general public. These tapes are our primary product at another BC/EFA annual event, "The Broadway Flea Market," held in Shubert Alley at the end of September. We at BROADWAY BEAT embrace this opportunity to raise a few bucks for the good cause, last year bringing in over $12,000. And, let me assure you, these tapes-along with videos from BC/EFA's "Gypsy of the Year" and "Broadway Bares"-sell like hot cakes. For more information contact us by E-mail at bbeattv@AOL.com and leave us your mail address and we will send you an order form. * All profits from this video go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. *