BroadwayWorld.com Shares Anniversary Show Excitement and an Alliance With Animal Haven on Manhattan's Lower East Side

As rehearsals and plans are in full swing for Monday night's SOLD-OUT performances of BROADWAYWORLD.COM VISITS OZ at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, CEO/Editor Robert Diamond, BWW staffers and the show's director want to do some 'shout outs'.

The talented cast, which includes (in alphabetical order): Sierra Boggess, Dee Dee Bridgewater, André De Shields, Jennifer Diamond, Kurt Domoney, Samia Finnerty, Mandy Gonzalez, Olivia Hardy, Roslyn Kind, Norm Lewis, Andrea McArdle, Kathy Najimy, Ken Page, Richard Ridge, John Tartaglia, Natalie Toro, Michael Urie and Josh Walden...plus special appearances by Jimmy Coogan, Luke Mannikus, Mitchell Sink and Nicky Torchia, will be celebrating BroadwayWorld.com's Anniversary and all things OZ, as they perform material and entertain from L. Frank Baum's delicious THE WIZARD OF OZ and all characters and incarnations, which would include WICKED, THE WIZ, all things that have to do with the Ruby Red Slippers... and even some Andrew Lloyd Webber.

People are flying in from various parts of the country (and world) to be part of the night's festivities and, in an effort to get some magical little dogs adopted, BroadwayWorld.com and the show's director Richard Jay-Alexander met on Thursday with Tiffany Lacey of Animal Haven (located at 251 Centre Street, and online here).

Richard Jay shares "I didn't know anything about Animal Haven, until I called Bernadette Peters on the phone to tell her an idea that we were discussing for the evening's performances. I told her that among the evening's musical offerings, Norm Lewis would be singing 'Home' from THE WIZ and that Sierra Boggess would be singing 'Over the Rainbow' from THE WIZARD OF OZ and that I wanted to feature a rescue dog in each of those two numbers, in an effort to get these animals adopted.

I remembered when we did it at the Minskoff, for an evening of fundraising, benefitting Broadway Barks, founded by Bernadette & Mary Tyler Moore, and Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. That sold-out event, which was Ms. Peters in Concert, opened its second act with the 'March of the Royal Siamese Children', which we did with dogs and those dogs got adopted.

For OZ, we'll have two dogs at each show, making the possibility of four dogs adoptable at evening's end. So, if anyone has room in their hearts and in their homes, for a loving new friend - be ready and get whatever you may need to bring your new friend home and to magically change your life in a day. It turns out that Bernadette pointed Michael Urie in this very direction and that's where he and partner Ryan Spahn went looking for a dog and found theirs, President McKinley, at Animal Haven.

Rob Diamond, my assistant James Jarrott and I went to meet with Tiffany and visit the premises. It's an amazing place and there are so many pets that need homes - dogs AND cats. Two that come immediately to mind were a 3-legged chihuaha, who may be one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever seen, and a cat who was found frozen in Tribeca during the recent cold spell. Another dog was found outside on the coldest day of the year.

I may be going on a bit about Animal Haven, but they certainly deserve the 'airtime' and we're thrilled that Ms. Lacey blessed our idea and will be bringing the dogs, and their handlers, to be with us on Monday night for BroadwayWorld.com Visits Oz. I have every confidence that these sweet little angels will find homes amongst our wonderful audience.

As for the show on Monday night, I couldn't be happier. I've known Rob since the inception of BroadwayWorld.com and was flattered to be asked to direct the first concert in a series that will be performed at Joe's Pub over this year of celebration.

This also celebrates the collaboration of BroadwayWorld.com and the receipient of funds from these evenings, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Next in their line-up, is the tribute to Damon Intrabartolo, on February 24th, which will be directed by my good friend Kristin Hanggi. It's sure to sell out, and Damon left us way too soon, so that should be a pretty fantastic and emotional evening."

BroadwayWorld.com staffers, cast, crew, creative team and our host, Richard Ridge, will be hard at work all weekend getting ready for Monday, which almost feels like 'Christmas' all over again.

We hope to see you there and, for those of you who weren't able to get tickets, our sincere apologies. But, we hope that you will join us for future concerts in the series, and of course, you will always find full coverage here at YOUR home - BroadwayWorld.com.

And, as they say in THE WIZARD OF OZ, "THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME"!!!

BroadwayWorld.com's concert series will launch on January 20, 2014 with BROADWAYWORLD VISITS OZ, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander & Marybeth Abel, with musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell. Also joining us on stage will be musicians Damien Bassman and Brian Hamm. Matt Berman and all the folks at Joe's Pub will be on hand, too, to make it all beautiful for our Emerald City event. In true BroadwayWorld.com fashion, the show is sure to entertain and maybe even move you a little, with our special take on OZ and EVERYTHING that goes with it. The RUBY RED SLIPPERS will be there, too, just waiting for you! For a look back at BroadwayWorld.com's past concerts for BC/EFA, click here to view highlights and how it all began.