What Good Two Broadway Divas Do

Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters Broadway Barks 2008

I picked up “City Tails” the other day, it’s this NYC local free pet paper. You may find this at most pet stores here in the City (and other major cities). Anyway, I was reading this interview with Bernadette Peters, who was talking about this program that she and her fellow diva, Mary Tyler Moore partnered up to form, called Broadway Barks. Broadway Barks hosts an annual star-studded animal adoption event that benefits animal shelters throughout the New York City area. They hold it in the famous Shubert Alley (A famous theatrical thoroughfare between 44th and 45th Streets, just west of Broadway, it was created by the space between the back of the Astor Hotel and the Shubert and Booth Theaters. The alley was fenced off for many years, used by actors in the two theaters as a cool place to spend intermission and, at one end, served as a terminal for a New Jersey bus line. To hide the unsightly alley from pedestrians on the sidewalks, a row of large theater posters were put on the fence. The posters stayed even after the buses left and the walkway was open to pedestrian traffic. After the demolition of the hotel and the erection of a skyscraper in its place, the famous alley was widened and, still featuring a row of posters.) With the help of this umbrella organization, shelters work together for the common good of these homeless animal, instead of euthanasia, there are placed with people who will love and nurture them.

The article focused on Peters’ new book entitled, Broadway Barks. The story is written by Bernadette Peters, with mixed-media collage illustrations by Liz Murphy.  Broadway Barks, is “a warm and appealing story of loss, reunion, and nurturing“, according to Amazon.com. It also includes an exclusive CD featuring a reading of the story and an original song written and sung by Bernadette Peters. All the profits from the book will go to helping shelter animals.

That’s cool.

-Cara