Bernadette Peters Concert Raises $615,000 to Benefit Broadway Barks and BC/EFA

"Bernadette Peters: A Special Concert for Broadway Barks Because Broadway Cares" was an astounding success raising $615,000 to benefit Broadway Barks and Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. Tony, Grammy and Golden Globe Award winning actress, and long-time BC/EFA friend and Trustee Bernadette Peters performed the special one night only concert last night at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre, produced by BC/EFA.

The evening was directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with musical direction by Marvin Laird.

For this special concert, Peters, the quintessential New Yorker, born in Queens, performed material from her Broadway career and recordings, as well as popular songs and personal favorites and included selections by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim

Among the highlights, the evening's "prologue" featured a reunion of Into the Woods original cast members Joy Franz, Merle Louise, Kay McClelland, and Lauren Mitchell joining Peters to "recreate" the show's opening number. Special guest Mary Tyler Moore, co-founder of Broadway Barks with Peters, performed the role of the "narrator" for that special performance.

Peters opened the second act of the concert by bringing to the stage and singing to some of her furry, four-legged friends from BARC Shelter (Dylan, Jennie, Biggie, Sammy, Rosie, Cody, Nina and Mimi) and The Humane Society (Hazel, Puffie, Snoopy and Mimi). Theatrical animal trainer Bill Berloni was also on hand with pups Minnie and Chico. All of the dogs featured on stage and many more are available for adoption from these local animal shelters. For more information, visit www.BARCShelter.org and www.HumaneSocietyNY.org.

BROADWAY CARES EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes and other critical illnesses across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $170 million dollars for critically needed services for people with AIDS and other serious illnesses. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers' Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide. For more information visit: www.BroadwayCares.org

BROADWAY BARKS, the annual star-studded dog and cat adopt-a-thon, came about as a result of Bernadette Peters' and Mary Tyler Moore's passion for animals. This year's Broadway Barks attracted an audience of more than 7,000 theater fans, pet owners, and animal lovers, and featured the participation of more than 27 animal shelters from the New York City area, as well as Broadway stars from the hit shows of the season, ending in a total of over 140 adoptions. Originally conceived as a program to promote the adoption of shelter animals, Broadway Barks has evolved into an event that has not only focused on the plight of homeless animals, but has opened the door of communication and fostered a spirit of community among the numerous shelters and rescue groups working throughout the city. Previously, many of these groups struggled in anonymity and isolation left to their own devices for promotion and fundraising in a job which is emotionally draining. As Broadway Barks looks toward the future, their goal is to continue in the path already established as well as to focus more attention on education, targeting such areas as responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter, and the importance of pet identification. For more information, please visit www.BroadwayBarks.com

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