Broadway about the Town: Stars off the Stage

There are other chances to catch Broadway stars than the theater-though I highly recommend you catch a show while you are in town.  During the summer and early fall, there are places to enjoy hearing them perform and support good causes at the same time:

Broadway Barks! (July 13^th, 2013): Hosted by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore for 15 years, this event connects fans with actors from their favorite shows as well as animals that need a new home. Numerous shelters are represented and raise money at their tables through donations, dog and cat products, and signed items.  After walking around Schubert Alley, be sure to get a good spot by the stage, where the event’s hostesses introduce the shelters which are present with their pets up for adoption; Broadway actors join the shelters on stage to introduce some of the animals by name and personality

Broadway in Bryant Park (Every Thursday July 11^th, 2013-August 15^th, 2013)-106.7 LiteFM sponsors this annual event to give people a theater experience in a beautiful open setting. Held in Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan, It is hosted by a DJ from that radio station every Thursday for at least 6 weeks. The featured shows for that week are usually listed on the free programs and Bryant Park’s event calendar site (http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/broadway.html ). The actors have a side stage set up for camera crews to film them and for fortunately situated fans to get autographs. *Disclaimer: the event can be cancelled due to weather.  It has been held in the hazy weeks of summer, so keep in mind to stay hydrated. Also be aware that a Broadway show can close prior to their Bryant Park appearance, in which case a previewed show slides into that slot.

Annual Broadway Flea Market (September 22^nd, 2013)-Another tradition, this event is entering its 27^th year. The proceeds go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and spans Times Square from 10am to 7pm. The shows set up tables and sell anything from autographed items to actual performance costumes. There are other vendors that offer the passerby a look through archived Playbills, programs and soundtracks. Anyone that enjoys Broadway should find the line that leads to a wheel of chance for various prizes-one of which is a chance to pick a pair of tickets from a box of envelopes;  It really works-I won tickets to see “STOMP!” last year in addition to magnets  and assorted surprise items.

 *www.playbill.com is my source for the information on Broadway Barks!, and Annual Broadway Flea Market. Broadway in Bryant Park is on the events calendar noted by the above link and the line-up is accessed by clicking on the event title. This may differ from the LiteFM Program.