The Broadway Barks 2 benefit will take place on July 22 in Shubert Alley, according to the event's producing organization, FIDONYC. Broadway Barks 2 was postponed due to stormy weather in Manhattan on July 15.
FIDONYC says most of the celebrities originally scheduled for the event will be on hand. One exception is Eartha Kitt, who had a prior commitment for July 22 and had to drop out. As reported earlier, Bernadette Peters, Mary Tyler Moore and numerous other stars from theatre are scheduled to participate in "Broadway Barks 2." "All of our Broadway actors will be there," a FIDONYC spokesperson told Playbill On-Line.
Last year's Broadway Barks drew a crowd estimated at 6,000 people. Promotion materials for the July 22 event list the following pet advocates who were expected to attend: Celeste Holm, Heather Headley (Aida), Bebe Neuwirth, Joel Grey, Patrick Stewart (The Ride Down Mt. Morgan), Tom Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun), Andrea McArdle (Beauty and the Beast), Brian Stokes Mitchell, Michael Mulheren (Kiss Me, Kate), Ruth Williamson (The Music Man), Adam Pascal and Sheri Rene Scott (Aida), Maureen Moore (Cabaret), Bryan Batt (Saturday Night Fever), Howard McGillin and Sarah Pfisterer (Phantom of the Opera), Catherine Hickland (ABC's "One Life To Live") and Scott Wise (Fosse).
"Broadway Barks! 2" is produced by FIDONYC (www.fidonyc.org). The animal welfare organization was founded two years ago by Peters and Moore.
"Thousands of dogs and cats in New York's shelters are in desperate need of homes," said Bernadette Peters in a prepared statement issued last week. "I adopted my dogs, Stella and Kramer, from the ASPCA and CACC. Instead of going to a pet store, I chose to save lives. Adoption is a simple, easy act of love that's brought me great joy over the years." Mary Tyler Moore added that, "there are many breed specific rescue groups. I have a Golden Retriever that I rescued from Yankee Golden Retriever and I have a Miniature Schnauzer that I adopted through Petfinder.com. Mixed or pure -- they are all lovable and need your help."
In its awareness campaigning, FIDONYC has collaborated with animal welfare organizations and shelters such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Animal Haven, BARC Shelter, BeingKind, Bide-a Wee, the Center for Animal Care and Control, Inc. (CACC), City Critters, Paws for Cause, Pet-I-Care, Sentient Creatures, Inc., and the Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare (SICAW).
Broadway Barks! 2 will generate proceeds that will be donated to FIDONYC. For more information on FIDONYC or any of the shelters, please contact (212) 227-FIDO or visit www.fidonyc.org.
-- By Murdoch McBride
