Broadway Barks 10, a pet adopt-a-thon, benefits New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. Produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the afternoon includes celebrity presentations of pets from animal shelters throughout the city.
The celebrity presentations begin at 5:30 PM.
Celebrity presenters are scheduled to include Lacey Kohl (Cry-Baby), Nathan Lane (November), Sebastian Arcelus (Jersey Boys), Li Jun Li (South Pacific), Christine Baranski (Boeing Boeing), Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys), Laura Benanti (Gypsy), Mario Lopez (A Chorus Line), Bill Berloni, Priscilla Lopez (In the Heights), Kerry Butler (Xanadu), Andrea Martin (Young Frankenstein), Victoria Clark (Marriage of Bette & Boo), Heather McRae (A Catered Affair), Glenn Close, Matthew Morrison (South Pacific), Harvey Fierstein (A Catered Affair), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia!), Boyd Gaines (Gypsy), Michael Mulheren (Damn Yankees), Peter Gallagher (The Country Girl), Bebe Neuwirth, Joel Grey, Orfeh (Legally Blonde), Shuler Hensley (Young Frankenstein), Sean Palmer (The Little Mermaid), Jackie Hoffman (Xanadu), Faith Prince (A Catered Affair), Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), Loretta Ables Sayre (A Catered Affair) and Andy Karl (Legally Blonde).
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 percent. We are proud that as a result of our efforts, in 2007, the number is down to 43 percent."
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 features 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, also features 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.
Shubert Alley is located in Manhattan between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.
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.
Peters will autograph copies of her best-selling children's tome, "Broadway Barks," July 12 at 12:30 PM at the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street.
