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 also features celebrities from the hottest shows currently on Broadway. The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will take place on Saturday, 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 event is free and open to the public.
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.
Designing this year’s Broadway Barks Playbill program and poster is famed illustrator and theatrical poster designer, James McMullan. Perhaps best known for designing 40 plus Lincoln Center Theater posters, McMullan has credits that span outside the theater community as well. After serving in the U.S. Army, McMullan moved to New York City in the 1950s and his illustrations have appeared in such publications as Esquire, Sports Illustrated and New York Magazine, where he helped develop the magazine’s graphic personality.
Bernadette Peters with her dog, Stella. (Photo: Timothy White via The Broadway Blog.)
Celebrity participants already lending their support include:
Bill Berloni (The Crucible)
Reed Birney (The Humans)
Sierra Boggess (School of Rock-The Musical)
Sophia Anne Caruso (Lazarus/Runaways)
Allison Case (Matilda The Musical)
Michael Cerveris (Fun Home)
Leanne Cope (An American in Paris)
Alma E. Cuervo (On Your Feet!)
Drew Gehling (Waitress)
Rick Holmes (Matilda The Musical)
Jayne Houdyshell (The Humans)
Judy Kaye (Wicked)
Beth Malone (Fun Home)
Willow McCarthy (Matilda The Musical)
Judy McLane (Mamma Mia)
Brian Stokes Mitchell (Shuffle Along)
Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family)
Brad Oscar (Something Rotten!)
Jill Paice (An American in Paris)
Gabriella Pizzolo (Fun Home)
Emily Skeegs (Fun Home)
Peter Scolari (Wicked)
Carrie St. Louis (Wicked)
Max von Essen (An American in Paris)
Aviva Winick (Matilda The Musical)
Amra-Faye Wright (Chicago)
Jessica Keenan Wynn (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)
Gloria Estefan with her dog, Noelle. (Photo: Alberto Tolot via The Broadway Blog.)
Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records and sold out stadiums around the world. Together, Gloria and her husband, Emilio have won 26 GRAMMY Awards® – but their music is only half the story. From the heart of Havana to the streets of Miami came a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the music industry had ever seen. ON YOUR FEET!, the Tony nominated hit Broadway musical that follows the Estefan’s journey to superstardom, set to their chart-topping, smash hits, including “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” and “Reach,” in addition to an original song written by Gloria and her daughter Emily Estefan.
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.
