The Alliance in the Media - Canine Casting Call Draws Aspiring Stars from Alliance Participating Organizations - February/March 2005 - Out of the Cage!, the E-Newsletter of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

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The Alliance in the Media

Canine Casting Call Draws Aspiring Stars from Alliance Participating Organizations

A Broadway-bound canine cast lines up with human cast members at the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang auditions at the Hilton Hotel.

A Broadway-bound canine cast lines up with human cast members at the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang auditions at the Hilton Hotel.

When the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opens at the Hilton Theatre in April, its entire canine cast will be wagging and wiggling its way to stardom from humble beginnings. Some of the Broadway newcomers were selected from an impressive troupe of canines representing Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) that attended a special audition at the Hilton Hotel on Friday, January 21.

Bill Berloni, the show's trainer, gave the talented pooches a few moments of glory as he stage-tested them before an audience of theatre and rescue folk. Berloni then selected two Broadway-bound hounds for the production — Fred, an eight-month-old Foxhound mix from the ASPCA, and Argyle, a ten-month-old Collie from Herding Dog Rescue.

Prior to the audition, Berloni had already cast two shelter dogs from the Humane Society of New York (HSNY), where he trains dogs to prepare them for their new adoptive homes. Harriet, a two-year-old Labrador mix, came to HSNY after being found wandering in Prospect Park, and Lady Guinevere, a ten-month-old Cocker/King Charles Spaniel mix was surrendered to the shelter because her companion did not have time to take care of her.

In announcing the new cast members, Berloni made a point of acknowledging that every dog who auditioned possessed star quality, and that they are certain to be successful in their next role as someone's companion.

The APOs participating in the audition represented a cross-section of the Alliance members. They included three shelters — Animal Haven, ASPCA, and BARC, three breed-specific rescue groups — American Bullmastiff Association Rescue Service, Herding Dog Rescue, and New England Border Collie Rescue — and Waggytail Rescue, which offers dogs and cats of many breeds for adoption.