As previously announced, Broadway Barks 10 will be held July 12 in Shubert Alley — located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue — from 3:30-6:30 PM.
Among those taking part in the celebrity presentations of pets from citywide animal shelters (5:30-6:30 PM) will be Christine Baranski (Boeing Boeing), Victoria Clark (The Marriage of Bette & Boo), Glenn Close (Sunset Boulevard), Harvey Fierstein (A Catered Affair), Boyd Gaines (Gypsy), Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein), Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), Andy Karl (Legally Blonde), Lacey Kohl (Cry-Baby), Nathan Lane (November), Mario Lopez (A Chorus Line), Priscilla Lopez (In the Heights), Orfeh (Legally Blonde), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia!), Matthew Morrison (South Pacific) and Faith Prince (A Catered Affair). Additional stars will be announced in the coming weeks.
The annual adopt-a-thon was created by pals Peters and Mary Moore to find homes for pets from city animal shelters. In a statement Moore said, "This year we're delighted to welcome two more shelters to our Broadway Barks family, Arf and Save Kitty, and according to recent statistics, we learned that we are making a difference. In 2002, the rate of euthanasia among shelter animals was at 70%. We are proud that as a result of our efforts, in 2007, the number is down to 43%."
Peters, who adopted her dogs, Kramer and Stella, from the ASPCA and AC&C, added, "Our work is bringing us closer to the day when we will no longer have to euthanize any healthy and treatable homeless cats and dogs because of a lack of space. As a community, we are most effective in helping animals when we pool our strengths to achieve what is, after all, a shared goal — the elevation and continued welfare of animals in our society."
The adopt-a-thon will feature a sampling of pets from several New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies, including A Cause for Paws, Adopt A Boxer Rescue, Animal Haven, Anjellicle Cats Rescue, ASPCA, AC&C, BARC, Bide-A-Wee, Bobbi & the Strays, City Critters, Humane Society of New York, Husky House, Kitty Kind, Long Island Greyhound Rescue, Loving Touch, Metropolitan Maltese Rescue, Mid Atlantic Great Dane Rescue, NYC Siamese Rescue, Pet-I-Care, PLUTO, Russell Refuge, Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare, Stray from the Heart, Tigger Foundation, Arf and Save Kitty. The afternoon event, sponsored by the ASCPA and Pedigree Food for Dogs, will also feature an auction of celebrity-autographed memorabilia. Proceeds from the auction and other donations received during the day will benefit the shelters and organizations attending Broadway Barks 10.
For more information call (212) 840-0770, ext. 477, or visit www.BroadwayBarks.com.
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Peters' "Broadway Barks," which features illustrations by Liz Murphy, was released in late April on the Blue Apple Books label and boasts a CD featuring a lively reading of the story by Peters and a lovely song ("Kramer's Song") penned by the Tony-winning Annie Get Your Gun and Song & Dance star. The charming children's book, the tale of a down-on-his-luck, yet scrappy dog Kramer, benefits Broadway Barks, the charitable organization co-founded by Peters and good friend Mary Tyler Moore over a decade ago.
