Edie Falco, Sutton Foster, Reeve Carney et al. Join Bernadette Peters for Broadway Barks Benefit Today

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters will host the 13th 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 official charity partner, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) with additional sponsorship by the New York Times. The event will take place today, July 9 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.

Marking the 13th Anniversary of the event, BROADWAY BARKS! once again will 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 and led to over 200 adoptions.

oore and Peters will be joined by an impressive roster of Broadway stars of this season, including Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Nina Arianda (Born Yesterday), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family), Steel Burkhardt (HAIR), Kerry Butler (Catch Me If You Can), Norbert Leo Butz (Catch Me If You Can), Bobby Cannavale (The Mother With the Hat), Reeve Carney (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Victoria Clark (Sister Act), Jennifer Damiano (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Paige Davis (Boeing Boeing), Matt DeAngelis (HAIR), Sutton Foster (Anything Goes), Adam Godley (Anything Goes), Joel Grey (Anything Goes), John Benjamin Hickey (The Normal Heart), Jackie Hoffman (The Addams Family), Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Isabel Keating (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Josh Lamon (HAIR), John Larroquette (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Beth Leavel (Baby, Its You), Joe Mantello (Normal Heart), Michael McGrath (Born Yesterday), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia), John McMartin (Anything Goes), Patina Miller (Sister Act), Michael Mulheren (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), Brad Oscar (The Addams Family), Patrick Page (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark), Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon), Paris Remillard (HAIR), Elizabeth Rodriguez (The Mother With the Hat), Annabella Sciorra (The Mother With the Hat), Kacie Sheik (HAIR), Alexandra Silber (Master Class), Will Swenson (Priscilla Queen of the Desert), Aaron Tveit (Catch Me If You Can), and Yul Vazquez (The Mother With the Hat).

"It is inspiring to see organizations in New York City working tirelessly and saving more lives than ever before," says ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. "We are proud of all that we have accomplished, and look forward to continuing our efforts to end animal homelessness in the city."

"Over these last eight years, New York City has dramatically increased the number of animals that leave NYC's shelter system alive either by adoption, return-to-owner or transfer to rescue groups where adoption is guaranteed," said Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance of New York. "In 2003, only 26 percent of cats and dogs in the city's shelter system made it out alive. Today, that statistic is virtually flipped, with nearly 73 percent of dogs and cats leaving the shelter system for loving homes."

BROADWAY BARKS! will feature a sampling of adoptable pets from several New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies, including Animal Care & Control of New York City, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Animal Haven, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, Animal Relief Fund, the ASPCA, Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition, Bideawee, Bobbi & the Strays, 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 America, Pet-I-Care, PLUTO Rescue of Richmond County, Russell Refuge, SaveKitty Foundation, Sean Casey Animal Rescue, Stray from the Heart, Tigger Foundation, Urban Cat League and Waggin' Train Rescue. Representatives from these organizations will be on hand to offer educational information on spaying and neutering.

BROADWAY BARKS! also will feature an auction of celebrity-autographed memorabilia. Proceeds from the auction and other donations received during the day will benefit the shelters and organizations attending BROADWAY BARKS!.

For more information about BROADWAY BARKS!, visit www.BroadwayBarks.com.

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