Veteran actresses Bernadette Peters and Beth Leavel discussed co-hosting “Broadway Barks” on Saturday, July 12th in New York City.
“Broadway Barks,” the starry dog and cat adoption event benefiting New York City animal shelters and rescue groups, returned for its 27th edition this summer to help four-legged friends find fur-ever homes.
The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, was held in Shubert Alley. It was hosted by Bernadette Peters, the iconic, Tony award-winning co-founder of “Broadway Barks” and star of this season’s “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.”
Peters was joined by co-host Beth Leavel, her “Old Friends” cast-mate and a fellow Tony winner.
Bernadette Peters
On being a part of “Broadway Barks” at Shubert Alley, Peters said, “It feels great. Didn’t I pick the perfect co-host with Beth Leavel? She loves animals so much, and what Beth said is so important.”
“If you want a companion, the best companion you can have, is a rescue animal (a cat or a dog),” Peters acknowledged.
On the lessons learned from hosting this event over the years, Peters reflected, “I always knew I love animals, and I am just so happy that this has happened. ‘Broadway Barks’ is a part of the Broadway community, and it has become their event, and they come out in-between shows. Angela Lansbury did it once, and we’ve been doing this for 27 years.”
“People need to understand that rescue animals are great, great beings,” Peters noted.
“The energy is so uplifting in Shubert Alley because these beautiful beings are so pure, and everybody is coming to make new friends. It’s all about love, and the feeling in the Alley is so healing; people will feel so uplifted,” Peters elaborated.
Beth Leavel
On being a part of this event, Leavel said, “It feels overwhelming because I know I can’t take home 300 dogs, and I don’t know why I can’t do that and I’m working on it.”
On being a part of the Broadway show “Old Friends,” Leavel said, “It was great. We had a really great time doing that. My cast is here, but I haven’t seen then for two weeks, so I am looking forward to a nice reunion with some furry babies.”
“Rescue dogs are the best lovers in the world,” Leavel concluded.
To learn more about Bernadette Peters, follow her on Instagram and visit her website.
