It's Broadway stars to the rescue

ConcerningAnimals

by Joan Lowell Smith

If free tickets were being doled out for Tony-award winning "Jersey Boys," Shubert Alley couldn't have been mofe solidly packed with humanity -- plus assorted pets -- than it was on a blistering July afternoon. Throngs clustered to see stars holding dogs and cats available for adoption through shelter and rescue groups that lined one side of the famous alley.

No ticket to ride

No tickets needed, though, for the 8th annual "Broadway Barks" star-studded Adopt-a-thon. Amazingly, no people or dogs were trampled in the crush that resembled the subway at rush hour. One annoyed man grumbled: "No need to push. You could start a stampede." His worries were for naught. People and pets behaved admirably, especially the pets.

It was impossible to determine how many were there to admire pets and how many were there for co-hosts Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters. Last year we interviewed the animated, lovable Bernadette who was as bubbly as ever, clutching a cute pup as she and Mary Tyler Moore appeared on an elevated stage cordoned off from fans. Moore was whisked away so quickly I never had the chance to speak to her but I did speak to the New Jersey rescue group who brought the adorable tiny Husky puppy MTM held while cameras clicked away.

Helping the homeless

Rescue and shelter organization were there by invitation only, due to the limited space in Shubert Alley which, as show-goers know, sits smack dab in the middle of the theatre district. I visited three groups serving New Jersey: Husky House (www.huskyhouse.org); Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue (www.magdrl-nj.com) and Metropolitan Maltese Rescue (www.malteserescue.com).

Before the stars appeared, I mingled with the mob to scope out the Husky group first, since I have my own husky, Timber. When Loraine Healy, founder of Husky rescue in Bridgewater, plunked the tiny pup in my arms, my heart melted and then broke when she said the previous owner had deliberately burned the puppy on a stove. Now healed, the cuddly gray bit of fluff never flinched as I held him. Volunteer Laura Waddell of North Arlington stunned me with the pup's name: Timber. Aaah.

As people stopped to rave over the adoptable huskies, Laura stressed that no husky could be adoptedon site. "We have a very careful screening process because huskies are high energy dogs with a high prey drive and need the right home." (An understatement, from one who knows). "People go 'oooh' and 'aaah' because huskies are so beautiful," she said. Right on.

When it was MTM's turn to hold tiny Timber, no one had informed him that she was a big star. And isn't that the wonderful thing about dogs and cats? They don't care who you are just how you are to them.

Mary Fran Cini had a spectacular blue Great Dane in tow. Her group, MAGDRL in Boonton, covers 10 states including New Jersey. As she held Gidget, a strinking silky blu-gray beauty, she explained to passersby that Danes, although enormous, are calm dogs who don't knock over everything in sight as someone might suspect.

At the other end of the size spectrum, Bonnie Puia from Metropolitan Maltese Rescue passed a pint-sized Maltese to various stars to hold for photo ops. "We're one of the best rescue groups around," Puia said proudly.

Starstruck

Backstage at the adjacent Schoenfelt Theatre, cast members of "Jersey Boys" were at the top of my list to interview. Three stars of the Tony-winning musical -- Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer -- posed with Chihuahuas. Happy to chat, Christian joked, "I'm not allowed to bring any dogs home today. My wife said to leave the dogs here. We have enough to handle with two kids and one of the way."

Reichard had the perfect solution for a busy broadway star. "I have a make-believe dog named Snickers. He's part pit-bull," he laughed and then teased spencer. "Ask him about his python." Spencer said he used to have a python but I was dubious. In any event, they all admitted they love dogs -- and maybe pythons -- but I'm not sure I'm buying the python part.

Wendie Malick of the TV show "Just Shoot Me," misses her menagerie back in California. I have two horses and two dogs I adopted in Santa Monica," she says. Living in Manhattan while she stars Off-Broadway in "Burleigh Grimes," she added, "(New York) City dog owners I've met are so good to their dogs."

Jacob Young, "Beauty and the Beast" lead, also held a pair of Chihuahuas. "I love animals, especially dogs," said the former soap opera star. One of his dogs came from a pet store. He knew it was from a puppy mill but he said he wanted to save the little tyke. And no, he doesn't have any other "beasts."

As we chatted, Gary Beach thrust his hand at Young. As the two embraced, Beach said, "I'm so glad we've finally met. You're playing my former part." Beach won the Tony for his role in "The Producers," playing the character who assumes the role of Hitler, a part he's played since the show opened.

Kate Reinders, star of "Wicked," was reluctant to hold just any dog. "I love dogs and cats but I'm allergic," she admitted. Next thing she knew, the Tony winner was holding a greyhound on a leash. I assured her that greyhounds are great dogs for people with allergies. (She didn't sneeze.)

"I can't say no to a distress call," confessed musical star Christine Ebersole a passionate animal lover from Maplewood. "They find us. Right now we 'only' have nine pets -- three cats, three dogs, two guinea pigs and a gerbil." But the day wasn't over.

Victoria Clark, "Light in the Piazza" star, clutched Lens, a Jack Russell belonging to Scott Stevens, producer of Broadway Barks, who described the pup as "the poster dog of Jack Russell Refuge" since she appears in shows and ads. Clark, who has a golden retriever and a kitty of her own, said, "Broadway Barks is an ego-free event. It's all about the animals, as it should be."

Safe to say -- Broadway Barks was definitely a hit.

Contact Joan Lowell Smith at P.O. Box 302, Garwood, N.J. 07027 or e-mail her at jsmith@starledger.com.

[Correction - the blue great dane was actually Jessica Carr's Luna. Gidget was the fawn dane with us at the event.]

-Posted 7/31/06