Broadway star, Tony, Grammy and Golden Globe Award winner, Bernadette Peters will pen a second children's book, Stella is a Star, set for publishing and release in the spring of 2010 by Blue Apple Books. The book, inspired by Peters' dog Stella, will feature illustrations by Liz Murphy. Proceeds will go to Broadway Barks, the charitable organization co-founded by Peters and Mary Tyler Moore over over 10 year ago in support of animal shelters.
Peters' released her first best-seller, Broadway Barks, about a down-and-out scrappy dog Kramer, was also illustrated by Murphy and released by Blue Apple Books in April 2008. The book was accompanied by a CD reading of the story by Peters and a song (Kramer's Song) written by the star.
Peters and Moore's Broadway Barks charity hosts the Broadway Barks event, the annual star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon that came about as a result of Bernadette Peters' and Mary Tyler Moore's passion for animals. This year's Broadway Barks attracted an audience of more than 7,000 theater fans, pet owners, and animal lovers, and featured the participation of more than 27 animal shelters from the New York City area, as well as Broadway stars from the hit shows of the season, ending in a total of over 140 adoptions. Originally conceived as a program to promote the adoption of shelter animals, Broadway Barks has evolved into an event that has not only focused on the plight of homeless animals, but has opened the door of communication and fostered a spirit of community among the numerous shelters and rescue groups working throughout the city. Previously, many of these groups struggled in anonymity and isolation left to their own devices for promotion and fundraising in a job which is emotionally draining. As Broadway Barks looks toward the future, their goal is to continue in the path already established as well as to focus more attention on education, targeting such areas as responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter, and the importance of pet identification. For more information visit www.BroadwayBarks.com.
Yesterday, on November 9, Peters hosted a sold-out benefit concert "Bernadette Peters: A Special Concert for Broadway Barks Because Broadway Cares" with special guest Moore to benefit the charity at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre.
This event, which featured Peters performing Broadway classics and personal favorites, was produced by BC/EFA with proceeds benefiting Broadway Barks and BC/EFA. The evening will directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with musical direction by Marvin Laird.
Says Peters of the evening: "I love to sing. When the opportunity came along to do a concert to benefit two of my passions, Broadway Barks and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, it was a match made in heaven. I have always been devoted to helpless shelter animals, especially those mixed breed pups that need a forever home. And, as a member of the Broadway community, I have seen friends and colleagues face some of life's roughest challenges. On November 9, all of this will come together at the Minskoff Theatre with a special concert for both of these organizations that I care so deeply about."
Throughout her illustrious career, Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with herperformances on stage and television, in concert, and on recordings. One of Broadway's most critically acclaimed performers, Bernadette has won numerous accolades including two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe, two Grammy Awards, three Emmy nominations and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Peters received both the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for her critically acclaimed performance in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Song and Dance. She earned her second Tony Award for her performance in Annie Get You're Gun. She also received Tony nominations for her memorable performances as Momma Rose, in Sam Mendes' critically-acclaimed revival of Gypsy, for The Goodbye Girl, Stephen Sondheim's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park with George, the Jerry Herman/Gower Champion ode to the movies, Mack and Mabel and the Leonard Bernstein/Comden and Green musical On The Town. In addition to these honors, Peters earned a Drama Desk nomination for her memorable portrayal of the Witch in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods.
While Peters is best known for her work in the theatre, her career also boasts an impressive list of television credits including most recently, a heart-wrenching performance in the Lifetime movie, Living Proof opposite Harry Connick Jr., a guest starring role in the two-hour 2008 season premiere of ABC-TV's "Grey's Anatomy" and an on-going role in the network's "Ugly Betty." A actress of amazing versatility, Peters has lit up the silver screen in 17 films throughout her distinguished career. She received a Golden Globe Award for her memorable performance in Pennies From Heaven. Among her film credits are: The Jerk with Steve Martin, The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds, Silent Movie with Mel Brooks, Annie with Carol Burnett, Pink Cadillac with Clint Eastwood, Slaves of New York with Mercedes Ruehl, Woody Allen's Alice with Mia Farrow, Impromptu with Hugh Grant and Mandy Patinkin, and It Runs in the Family, starring opposite Kirk and Michael Douglas.
On record, in addition to numerous Original Broadway Cast recordings, Ms. Peters has recorded six solo albums, including the Grammy nominated Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Etc: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall and I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
