Broadway Barks facts for kids

Broadway Barks is a special yearly event in New York City that helps find loving homes for animals from shelters. It was started by famous performers Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore. Since 1999, this event has happened every July in a place called Shubert Alley.

At Broadway Barks, many performers, especially those from Broadway shows, introduce cats and dogs that are ready for adoption. Many animal groups from the New York City area also take part in this wonderful event.

About Broadway Barks

Broadway Barks began in 1999. Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, along with others, wanted to help animals. They got the idea after a successful fundraising event for another charity called Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

At the event, actors and other well-known people present cats and dogs from animal shelters in and around New York City. These animals are all looking for new families.

Bernadette Peters received a special Tony Award in 2012 for her work with Broadway Barks. This award, called the Isabelle Stevenson Award, honors people who do great charity work. Also, in 2012, a special "Ride of Fame" bus was dedicated to Peters and Moore. This bus celebrates important New Yorkers and has their pictures and the Broadway Barks logo on it.

The Adopt-a-thon Event

The Broadway Barks event has been held every July since 1999. It takes place in Shubert Alley, which is in the heart of the Broadway Theater District. The very first adopt-a-thon was on July 24, 1999. It helped five animal welfare groups, including the ASPCA and the Humane Society. Famous people like Tom Wopat and Edie Falco were there.

In July 2007, more than 100 pets found homes! The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, even declared July 14, 2007, "Broadway Barks Day."

Over the years, Broadway Barks has grown a lot. By 2008, it helped about 25 animal adoption groups. Presenters included stars like Glenn Close and Nathan Lane. The 2009 event helped 26 animal groups, with many celebrities like David Hyde Pierce and Audra McDonald attending.

In 2010, Broadway Barks 12 took place. Many stars participated, including Sean Hayes and Tony Shalhoub. To celebrate the event, the Empire State Building was lit up in pink, purple, and yellow!

Broadway Barks continued to be a big success in the following years. In 2011, performers from many Broadway shows, such as Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and The Book of Mormon, presented animals. William Berloni, a famous trainer of animals for Broadway, also helped.

In 2012, Bernadette Peters signed a new Broadway Barks calendar. She even rang the NASDAQ closing bell to mark the event. About 27 animal shelters participated, and stars like Megan Hilty and Bebe Neuwirth presented the animals. Bebe Neuwirth has helped at Broadway Barks almost every year.

The 2013 event was co-hosted by Peters and Harvey Fierstein. Many stars like Sigourney Weaver and Jane Lynch were there. Around 27 shelters, including Husky House and KittyKind, were represented.

In 2014, Peters and James Franco hosted the event. Performers from popular shows like Matilda The Musical and Aladdin participated. Stars like Zach Braff and Audra McDonald were among the presenters.

Broadway Barks 17 in 2015 had Peters and Andrew Rannells as hosts. Many shelters, such as Animal Haven and Sean Casey Animal Rescue, took part. Performers from Something Rotten and Fun Home were also there.

In 2016, Gloria Estefan joined Peters as a co-host. Actors from almost all Broadway shows, from Beautiful to Wicked, presented the adoptable pets.

The 2017 event honored co-founder Mary Tyler Moore, who had passed away. A new award, The Mary Tyler Moore Award, was given to Sophie Gamand, an animal advocate. In 2018, Victor Garber co-hosted with Peters. The 2019 event was canceled because of construction in Shubert Alley.

In 2021, Broadway Barks was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bernadette Peters hosted, and many stars like Carol Burnett and Kelly Ripa participated. The event was produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. In 2022, Broadway Barks returned to being an in-person event, with many Broadway stars and shelters attending.

Other Ways Broadway Barks Helps

Special Concerts

In 2009, Bernadette Peters held a special concert called "A Special Concert for Broadway Barks Because Broadway Cares." It raised money for both Broadway Barks and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. The concert collected about $615,000 for the two charities.

Short Film

In 2015, actor Alan Cumming wrote and directed a short film called Ultimate Encore. This film helped raise money and awareness for Broadway Barks. Cumming said he was happy to make a film that celebrated New York City and also highlighted the great work of Broadway Barks.

Benefit Performances

Other performers have also held concerts to support Broadway Barks. Daniel Reichard gave two concerts in 2015, and Tim Realbuto presented a concert in 2016. A part of the money from these shows went to Broadway Barks.

Books and Songs for Broadway Barks

Broadway Barks

To help the charity, Bernadette Peters wrote a children's picture book called Broadway Barks. It has colorful illustrations by Liz Murphy. The book came out in 2008 and is for young readers. It even reached #5 on The New York Times Bestseller List for Children's Picture Books.

The story is about a lonely dog named Douglas. He follows a kind lady to a Broadway Barks event. When it's his turn to "sing," people laugh because they only hear barking. But a girl named Isabelle understands he is performing and adopts him, naming him "Kramer."

The book comes with a CD where Peters reads the story and sings a lullaby called "Kramer's Song." Peters wrote the music and lyrics for the song. There's also a plush toy dog named Kramer, and money from its sales helps the charity. The real Kramer, a mixed-breed dog Peters adopted, and her goddaughter Isabelle inspired the characters.

Stella is a Star

Peters wrote a second children's book named after her other dog, Stella. It's called Stella is a Star and also has illustrations by Liz Murphy and a CD with an original song, "Stella's Song." Stella is a pit bull who wishes she was a pig ballerina, but she learns to love herself just the way she is. This book was released in 2010, and its sales also help Broadway Barks.

Stella and Charlie Friends Forever

Her third children's book, Stella and Charlie Friends Forever, tells the story of a shelter dog named Charlie joining Stella and their "mom." At first, Stella feels a bit jealous, but they soon become the best of friends. Liz Murphy also did the illustrations for this book. Peters introduced the book in 2015.