Joanna Gleason & Marc Shaiman Join Roster of Stars for BEST IN SHOWS at 54 Below

Joanna Gleason and Marc Shaiman will join Sierra Boggess, Ana Gasteyer, Adam Kantor, Andy Karl, Lindsay Mendez, Orfeh, Hugh Panaro, Christine Pedi, Kate Rockwell, Betsy Wolfe and Karen Ziemba, with special guest appearances by adorable four-legged friends, in the 2018 Best in Shows, a star-studded cabaret evening benefiting the Humane Society of New York, on Monday, October 15, 2018 at 7 pm at Feinstein's/ 54 Below. 2018 Best in Shows, presented by Dorothy and Bill Berloni, will honor Sirius XM radio host Seth Rudetsky.

Rudetsky will be awarded the Humane Society of New York's Sandy Award in recognition of his deep concern and support of the needs of rescued animals. (The multi-talented Rudetsky will also serve as host and music director, as he has for the past four benefits).

The cabaret show will begin at 7:00 pm. There will be a post-performance reception with cast members for premium ticket buyers.

Best in Shows will feature performances by Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, School of Rock), Ana Gasteyer (Wicked, "Saturday Night Live"), Joanna Gleason (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Into the Woods), Adam Kantor (The Band's Visit, Fiddler on the Roof), Andy Karl (Pretty Woman, Groundhog Day), Lindsay Mendez (Carousel, Significant Other), Orfeh (Pretty Woman, Legally Blonde), Hugh Panaro (Phantom of the Opera, Lestat), Christine Pedi (Host, Sirius XM Radio, Spamilton), Kate Rockwell (Mean Girls), Marc Shaiman (Hairspray, "Smash"), Betsy Wolfe (Waitress, The Last Five Years) and Karen Ziemba (Contact, Bullets Over Broadway), with special guest appearances by two and four-legged friends.

Seth Rudetsky spent many years on Broadway as a pianist and conductor as well as two years as a comedy writer on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (three Emmy nominations). He is the afternoon deejay on the SiriusXM Broadway channel and the host of "Seth Speaks." He's performed his show, Deconstructing Broadway in London, Boston (Irne award) and L.A. (with Barbra Streisand in the audience!), and co-wrote and co-starred in Disaster! on Broadway, which was a NY TimesCritic's pick. His books include Seth's Broadway Diary Volumes 1, 2 and 3, as well as two young adult novels. He has a rescue kitty from City Vet, two rescue doggies from Animal Care Center and a new rescue doggie named Mateo whom he and his husband James met when they organized an outing to the local animal shelter in Puerto Rico during a stop on Seth's Big Fat Broadway Cruise. In 2016, he and James produced the "What the World Needs Now Is Love" recording featuring Idina Menzel, Audra MacDonald, Gloria Estefan and so many more, to help the victims and families of the Orlando shooting. On Inauguration Day 2018 they started Concert for America, a monthly concert benefiting civil/human/environmental charities. They are now doing salons around the country to help flip districts Blue! Seth's deconstructing videos can be found on sethrudetsky.com

The Tony-honored animal trainer Bill Berloni's rescued animals have starred in many of Broadway, television and Hollywood's biggest shows and movies, starting with the original Sandy in Annie in 1977, to The Ferryman on Broadway. Bill is the recipient of a special 2017 Drama League Award for "Unique Contribution to the Theatre," and has received special recognition from the Outer Critics Circle. Bill and Dorothy Berloni met over twenty years ago and have been rescuing and training animals ever since. Their new musical Because Of Winn Dixie had its most recent run at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in January 2017, where it was called "A Triumph" by USA Today. It is the first theater piece to showcase the human/animal bond using a real rescue dog as the star. The Berloni animals (who are all rescued), their family and the Humane Society of New York have been showcased in the reality series "From Wags to Riches with Bill Berloni" on the Discovery Family Channel. Bill and Dorothy focus their efforts on helping the Humane Society of New York, where Bill is Director of Animal Behavior and Training. Once again, they are bringing their two worlds together - the Humane Society of New York and Broadway - to help raise money for animals in need and recognize people who champion animal welfare.

The Humane Society of New York has been a presence in New York City for over 100 years, caring for animals in need when illness, injury or homelessness strikes. Founded In 1904 to protect the city's horses against abuse, the Society soon expanded to include a free medical clinic and adoption center for cats and dogs. Today the Humane Society of New York's hospital and Vladimir Horowitz and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz Adoption Center help more than 38,000 animals annually.

Best in Shows will be held on Monday, October 15 at Feinstein's/54 Below, 254 West 54th Street (between B'way and 8th Ave). Doors open at 6 pm; the show begins at 7 pm. All tickets include an open bar and small plates. Tickets available by calling (646) 476-3551. For further information, visit www.humanesocietyny.org.

Program and performers subject to change.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

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