Stars of HAMILTON, AN ACT OF GOD, FULLY COMMITTED, WAITRESS and More Set for 2016 BROADWAY BARKS Today

BROADWAY BARKS announces their 18th annual star-studded dog and cat adoption event to benefit New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. Founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, Broadway Barks features celebrities from the hottest shows currently on Broadway.

The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will take place today, July 30, in Shubert Alley (located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenues). The festivities begin at 3 p.m. when attendees can meet all the adoptable dogs and cats; celebrity presentations of adoptable pets will take place between 5-6:30 p.m. This year's event will be co-hosted by Bernadette Peters and Gloria Estefan. The rain or shine event is free and open to the public.

Early Birds to the adoption event get a special treat at 12:00 p.m., when this year's hosts, Bernadette Peters and Gloria Estefan will appear in the alley and sign copies of the 2016 Broadway Barks poster and Playbill designed by James McMullan. Posters and Playbills will be for sale with 100% of the proceeds going back to Broadway Barks. In addition, they will be debuting a new Broadway Barks bracelet, which will also be on sale with 100% of proceeds benefiting Broadway Barks!

Marking its 18th anniversary, Broadway Barks will again help hundreds of New York City's shelter animals find permanent homes by informing New Yorkers about the plight of thousands of homeless dogs and cats in the metropolitan area. The popular and highly attended event will feature hundreds of adoptable animals from 27 animal rescue groups.

Celebrity participants lending their support include:

James Barbour (Phantom of the Opera)

Bill Berloni (The Crucible)

Reed Birney (The Humans)

Richard H. Blake (Jersey Boys)

Sierra Boggess (School of Rock-The Musical)

Ava Briglia (Matilda The Musical)

Scott J. Campbell (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)

Sophia Anne Caruso (Lazarus/Blackbird)

Allison Case (Matilda The Musical)

Michael Cerveris (Fun Home)

Leanne Cope (An American in Paris)

Alma E. Cuervo (On Your Feet!)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Fully Committed)

Drew Gehling (Waitress)

Sean Hayes (An Act of God)

Jessica Hecht (Fiddler on the Roof)

Rick Holmes (Matilda The Musical)

Jayne Houdyshell (The Humans)

Judy Kaye (Wicked)

Chilina Kennedy (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)

Michael Lomenda (Jersey Boys)

Rory O'Malley (Hamilton)

Beth Malone (Fun Home)

Willow McCarthy (Matilda The Musical)

Rita McKenzie (Ruthless! The Musical)

Judy McLane (Mamma Mia)

Kim Maresca (Ruthless! The Musical)

Samantha Massell (Fiddler on the Roof)

Brian Stokes Mitchell (Shuffle Along)

Jessie Mueller (Waitress)

Michael Mulheren (Bright Star)

Tori Murray (Ruthless! The Musical)

Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family)

Rory O'Malley (Hamilton)

Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!)

Jill Paice (An American in Paris)

Paul Pecorino (Ruthless! The Musical)

Mauricio Pérez (Jersey Boys)

Gabriella Pizzolo (Fun Home)

Ben Rappaport (Fiddler on the Roof)

Dominic Scaglione Jr. (Jersey Boys)

Peter Scolari (Wicked)

Emily Skeegs (Fun Home)

Amy Spanger (Matilda The Musical)

Carrie St. Louis (Wicked)

Alexandria Suarez (On Your Feet)

Quinn VanAntwerp (Jersey Boys)

Max von Essen (An American in Paris)

Ana Villafañe (On Your Feet!)

Aviva Winick (Matilda The Musical)

Amra-Faye Wright (Chicago)

Jessica Keenan Wynn (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)

Barks will feature adoptable animals from the following New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies including: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), NY Abandoned Angels Rescue (NYAAR), Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC), Animal Haven, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, BARC (Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition) Shelter, Bideawee, Bobbi and the Strays, City Critters, The Humane Society of New York, Husky House. KittyKind, Linda's Cat Assistance, Little Shelter, Long Island Bulldog Rescue, Loving Touch, Manhattan Valley Cat Rescue, Main Line Animal Rescue, Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League, Inc., Pet-I-Care, P.L.U.T.O. Rescue of Richmond County, Posh Pets Rescue, SaveKitty Foundation, Sean Casey Animal Rescue, The Tigger Foundation and Urban Cat League.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic. Broadway Cares also awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states.