Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters will host the 12th annual BROADWAY BARKS!, a star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon benefiting New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is sponsored by the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and Pedigree® Food for Dogs with additional sponsorship by the New York Times. The event will take place on Saturday, July 10th in Shubert Alley (located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). The festivities begin at 3:30 p.m.; celebrity presentations of pets from citywide animal shelters will take place between 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. (Celebrity participation begins at 5:15 PM).
Newly announced celebrities that will be joining Bernadette and Mary are: George Akram (West Side Story), Fred Applegate (La Cage Aux Folles), Brooks Ashmanskas (Promises, Promises), Corbin Bleu (In the Heights), Kristin Chenoweth (Promises, Promises), Veanne Cox (La Cage Aux Folles), Erin Davie (A Little Night Music), Robin De Jesús (La Cage Aux Folles), John Dossett (Mamma Mia), Gina Ferrell (Mamma Mia), Kelsey Grammer (La Cage Aux Folles), Alexander Hanson (A Little Night Music), Sean Hayes (Promises, Promises), Jackie Hoffman (Addams Family), Chad Kimball (Memphis), Karl Kenzler (Mary Poppins), Leigh Ann Larkin (A Little Night Music), Aaron Lazar (A Little Night Music), Ramona Mallory (A Little Night Music), Karen Olivo (West Side Story), Loretta Ables Sayre (South Pacific), and Josefina Scaglione (West Side Story).
They will join the previously announced: Brooke Adams (Lend Me a Tenor), Bill Berloni (Trainer to Broadway's four legged stars), Kevin Chamberlin (The Addams Family),Katie Finneran (Promises, Promises), Montego Glover (Memphis), Tony Goldwyn (Promises, Promises), Ruthie Henshall (Chicago), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Beth Leavel (Mamma Mia), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia), Michael Mastro (West Side Story), Jan Maxwell (Lend Me a Tenor), Tony Shalhoub (Lend Me A Tenor), and Richard Thomas (Race).
Marking the 12th Anniversary of the organization, BROADWAY BARKS! will once again help many of New York City's shelter animals find permanent homes by informing New Yorkers about the plight of the thousands of "homeless" dogs and cats in the metropolitan area. Last year's BROADWAY BARKS! attracted an audience of more than 7,500 theater fans, pet owners, animal lovers, and Broadway stars from the hit shows of the season. The event featured the participation of more than 27 animal shelters from the New York City area, which led to a total of over 200 adoptions.
"According to recent statistics, we learned that we are making a difference," according to Mary Tyler Moore. "In 2002, the rate of euthanasia among shelter animals was at 74% of total intake. We are proud that as a result of our efforts, in 2009, the number of animals euthanized in NYC shelters has dropped to 33% of total intake. That means nearly 18,000 fewer animals have been euthanized in our city's shelters compared to 2003.
"Its hard to believe we are celebrating 12 years of Broadway Barks!" says Bernadette Peters "It brings joy to my heart that so many people share one of my true passions...saving animals. I hope this event will be here for another 12 years."
"We are proud to know that New York City's euthanasia rate for companion animals is at its lowest in history," said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. "Even though there is still more work to be done, we are pleased to see the direction the city is going to save the lives of adoptable animals."
"Pedigree® Food for Dogs, is pleased to be returning again as one of title sponsors of Broadway Barks," said John Anton, marketing director of Pedigree® Brand. "Our partnership with Broadway Barks is such a natural fit for Pedigree® and our efforts to increase the education and awareness of the plight of homeless dogs across the country."
Peters will be signing her 2nd children's book, "Stella is a Star!" after the event in the lobby of the Schoenfeld Theatre. The new book, published by Blue Apple Books, is about Stella, a pup who would rather be a graceful pig ballerina than what she really is: a dog no one seems to like. Bernadette's lovable Stella learns the lessons of self-acceptance, following her heart's desires and, most importantly, that it's okay just to be herself. The book includes a CD with an original song written and performed by Bernadette Peters.
BROADWAY BARKS! will feature a sampling of potential pets from several New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies, including AC&C, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Animal Haven, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, ARF, ASPCA, BARC, Bide-A-Wee, Bobbi & the Strays, Cascade Beagle Rescue, City Critters, Humane Society of New York, Husky House, Kitty Kind, Long Island Greyhound Rescue, Loving Touch, Manhattan Valley Cat Rescue, Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue, North Shore Animal League, NYC Siamese Rescue, Pet-I-Care, PLUTO, Russell Refuge, SaveKitty Foundation, Sean Casey Animal Rescue, Stray from the Heart, Tigger Foundation, Urban Cat League. Representatives from these organizations will be on hand to offer educational information on spaying and neutering.
