On May 12th, 2008,
Bernadette Peters hosted a launch party for her first book, "Broadway Barks". A long time advocate for pet adoption,
Peters and fellow actress
Mary Tyler Moore started the organization Broadway Barks! Each year they hold a star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon, benefiting New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. The event is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and sponsored by the ASPCA. The book, authored by Peters, with illustrations by
Liz Murphy, is published by Blue Apple Books and is the star's first foray into the publishing world. She did it at the prompting of friends and agreed to not only write the book, loosely based on how she adopted her dog Kramer, but also penned an original song, again at the prompting of both friends and her publisher, which comes on a CD inside the book along with her charming reading of the story...sound effects and all!
The publisher's notes for "Broadway Barks" read, "In a park in New York City lives a lonely little dog. He remembers when he used to get taken for walks, fed dinner every night, and told he was a good dog. Now, he's all alone and must fend for himself. But everything changes one day when he sees a lady reading in the park and decides to follow her—all the way to a place where he might become a star!"
To order the book please click
here.The book launch took place at New York's chic eatery, Le Cirque and
Marco Maccioni was on hand to kick off the event. This year's Broadway Barks! will take place in Shubert Alley on July 12, 2008.
Photos By Walter McBride/ Retna Ltd. 
Broadway Barks, the book
Kramer
Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne Jackson
Richard Jay-Alexander and Cheyenne Jackson
Angela Lansbury and Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne Jackson and Mary Tyler Moore
Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne Jackson
Cheyenne Jackson
Angela Lansbury
Angela Lansbury and Joel Grey
Angela Lansbury and Joel Grey
Angela Lansbury and grandson Peter Shaw
Angela Lansbury and Bernadette Peters
Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters
Mary Tyler Moore
Marco Maccioni
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore and husband Robert Levine
Mary Tyler Moore
Illustrator Liz Murphy and Kramer
Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters
Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters
Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters
Cheyenne Jackson and Bernadette Peters
Cheyenne Jackson and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters and Marco Maccioni
Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters
Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters
Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters
Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters and Liz Murphy
Bernadette Peters and Richie Ridge
Bernadette Peters and Richie Ridge
Bernadette Peters and Richie Ridge
Joan Rivers, Bernadette Peters and Brian Stokes Mitchell
Joan Rivers and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters and Brian Stokes Mitchell
Bernadette Peters with the Blue Apple Books family
Joan Rivers, Mary Tyler Moore, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters and Joel Grey
Tom Wopat, Joan Rivers, Bernadette Peters and Brian Stokes Mitchell
Annie Get Your Gun Stars Tom Wopat and Bernadette Peters
Tom Wopat and Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Mary Tyler Moore, Bernadette Peters, and arranger Marvin Laird
Sheet music for Bernadette Peters' composition 'Kramer's Song'
Sheet music for 'Kramer's Song'
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters and Kramer
Bernadette Peters and Kramer
Bernadette Peters sings "Kramer's Song" for her guests
Bernadette Peters and Guests
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters sings as Grey and Moore look on
Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore
Bernadette Peters with her longtime assistant Patty Saccente along with fellow Broadway Barks
Producers Richard Hester and Scott T. Stevens
Bernadette Peters with her longtime assistant Patty Saccente along with fellow Broadway Barks
Producers Richard Hester and Scott T. Stevens
Brian Stokes Mitchell and Richard Jay-Alexander
Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bernadette Peters and Richard Jay-Alexander
Bernadette Peters and her sister, Casting Director Donna DeSeta
Bernadette Peters pictured with Kramer and 'Broadway Barks' Cover Art
