Broadway Barks

Broadway Barks is an annual animal charity event held in New York City to promote the adoption of shelter animals. The event was founded in 1999 by Bernadette Peters with her friend Mary Tyler Moore and others, who wanted to do "something for the animals" after a successful fund–raising campaign for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. [Donahue, Dick. [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6558672.html?nid=2788 "A New Tune for Bernadette Peters",] "Publishers Weekly", May 8, 2008] [McNulty, Charles. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-bernadette-peters20-2008jul20,0,6058134.story "Peters writes a new role for herself",] "Los Angeles Times", July 20, 2008] Broadway and other celebrities present the animals for adoption.

The event has been held every July since 1999 in Shubert Alley, the heart of the Broadway theatre district. The first adopt–a–thon was held on July 24, 1999, and benefitted five animal welfare shelters and groups: the ASPCA, Center for Animal Care & Control (CACC), Bide-a-Wee, Humane Society and North Shore Animal League. Celebrities such as Tom Wopat, Joel Grey, Andrea McArdle, and Edie Falco participated. [Szabo, Julia, "New York Pet: Peters' Pet Project", "The New York Post", July 18, 1999, p. 59]

The event grew over the intervening years until, on July 12, 2008, it benefitted some 25 animal adoption and welfare groups, with performers such as Glenn Close, Phyllis Newman, Mario Lopez, and Nathan Lane introducing the adoptable animals. [Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119403.html "Broadway Barks for a Good Cause July 12 in Shubert Alley",] playbill.com, July 12, 2008] During the July 2007 event, more than 100 pets were adopted, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a proclamation making July 14, 2007 "Broadway Barks Day" in New York City. [ [http://www.broadwaycares.org/events/barks2007.cfm "Broadway Barks 9 Was A Doggone Success",] broadwaycares.org]

Book and song

To promote the charity, Peters wrote a children's picture book, "Broadway Barks", with mixed-media collage illustrations by Liz Murphy. [Sokol, Robert. [http://www.ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=theatre&article=419 "Going to the dogs (& cats)",] "Bay Area Reporter, July 24, 2008] The book was released in 2008 by Blue Apple Books and is designed for ages four through eight. It reached #5 on the "New York Times" Children's Best Sellers: Picture Books list for the week of June 8, 2008. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E0DE1639F93BA35755C0A96E9C8B63&scp=3&sq=%22Bernadette+Peters%22&st=nyt"CHILDREN'S BEST SELLERS: PICTURE BOOKS: Sunday, June 8th 2008",] "New York Times", June 8, 2008]

It tells the story of Douglas, an abandoned dog, as he follows a "pretty lady" (who looks similar to Peters) to a Broadway Barks pet adoption event in Shubert Alley in New York City. He takes his turn singing, but people laugh at him, hearing only barking. A girl named Isabelle understands that he is performing and adopts him, renaming him "Kramer." [ [http://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Barks-CD-Bernadette-Peters/dp/1934706000 amazon.com listing] ]

The book is accompanied by a CD, which has the story and a lullaby being read and sung by Peters herself. The lullaby, "Kramer's Song", has music and lyrics written by Peters. [ [http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=567692 "Bernadette Peters: How Broadway Barks Became a Book for Kids",] broadway.com, June 24, 2008]

Peters has a dog named Kramer and a goddaughter named Isabelle, who were the inspirations for the characters in the book.

References

* [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109540.html "Broadway Barks for a Good Cause July 14; Peters and Moore Co-Host", playbill.com, July 14, 2007]

External links

* [http://www.broadwaybarks.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119457.html "Photo Call: "Broadway Barks" in Shubert Alley", July 14, 2008]
* [http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/13802 "The Book (and Song) of Bernadette", theatermania.com, May 7, 2008]