Here in New York we have this little thing called Broadway. You might have heard of it – big shows, big voices, big budgets, and well — luckily — also big hearts.

The Broadway community came out this week for the annual Easter Bonnet Competition to raise money for Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids. Basically how the event works is that companies from various Broadway, Off-Broadway and touring productions offer skits, songs and/or dances as well as a bonnet created specially for the competition with all the proceeds going to BCEFA. I wasn’t able to make it out this year, but some friends of mine attended and said it was super great!

As always, the event was star-packed with famous faces like Megan Mullaly, Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, David Hyde Pearce and the dude with the biggest (and arguably craziest) fans I’ve ever seen, Clay Aiken.

Oh and the best part: this year those illustrious Broadway Belters earned a whopping 3.7 million dollars all for charity! Oh me oh my!

If you missed the event but still want to give a little pocket change, visit the Broadway Cares website and anti-up!

photo credit:Aubrey Reuben

E: Tell us about The Hollywood Office of the Human Society of the United States.
HSUS: We originally started as the ArkTrust and merged with HSUS in 2002. We are devoted to raising public awareness of animal issues by encouraging and honoring the major news and entertainment media. We believe that media is an extremely influential forum to inform, provoke and compel individuals to think differently about a whole range of social issues and educate about animal cruelty.

E: Tell us about the Genesis Awards.
HSUS: Animal advocate and actress Gretchen Wyler started the Genesis Awards in 1986. She came up with the idea because she strongly believed in rewarding members of the media who spotlight animal issues, thus increasing public awareness and compassion toward animals. The first event took place as a luncheon at the Bel Age Hotel drawing only 140 attendees and quickly grew into a large gala at the Beverly Hills Hilton with over 800 people. Wyler wanted to really honor the animal activism that really started the trend of animal activism in the 60s from starlets of that time period including Doris Day and Brigitte Bardot. In fact, there are now two awards – the Doris Day Music Award and the Brigitte Bardot International Award that are both highlighted during the gala.

E: What role do the celebrities play in the Genesis Awards?
HSUS: The actual awards are given to members of major media who include animal issues and raise public understanding of animal issues. The celebrities actually present the awards, however we just announced a new award in honor of Gretchen Wyler which was created specifically to a celebrity. Paul McCartney received the first award in honor for the work he has done for raising awareness against the slaughter of seals in Canada and his full body of work in animal rights over the past forty years.

E: Not to name drop, BUT, who are some of your regulars that take part in the Genesis Awards?
HSUS: We are so fortunate to have a number of celebrities who continue to support the work we do and help to raise awareness around specific issues at infinite levels. Some of our friends include: Bill Maher, Wendy Malick, James Cromwell, Alicia Silverstone, Sean Astin, Amy Smart, Emily and Zooey Deschanel, Daryl Hannah and many more.

E: Tell us about the Animal Content in Entertainment Program (ACE).
HSUS: The goal of this program is to work with filmmakers, producers and distributors to develop and support the inclusion of animal topics in feature films, television programming and documentaries. This is where media truly has the power to change minds and influence behavior. We work with them at a creative level to assure that they accurately portray animal issues in principal or secondary dramatic or comedic story lines. We also offer a grant program called SilverDocs in partnership with AFI/Discovery Channel Film Festival, which we hope will encourage animal issues as a rich and growing source of narrative and factual material.

E: Any upcoming storylines we should be aware of?
HSUS: Morgan Spurlock of 30 days did an episode where he paired an animal activist with a non-animal activist and Emily Deschanel recently featured animal cruelty in an episode of Bones.

E: What are some recent campaigns you have taken part in?
HSUS: We recently launched Puppy Mill Awareness Week with support from Jennifer Love Hewitt, Nathan Lane, Patricia Arquette, and Molly Shannon. Our goal is to help educate people that there are different ways to find pets other than puppy mills which is actually where many of the puppies in pet stores come from.

Another big event is when Wolfgang Puck recently announcing his commitment to come up with mandates that would end animal cruelty including no caged crates for veal, no battery caged chickens, and amazingly NO FOIE GRAS. This will make a huge impact.

Russell Simmons also recently came out with an anti-dog fighting PSA.

All of these campaigns are raising awareness and helping people to make the anti-animal cruelty choice.

E: What do you feel are some of the most influential entertainment pieces that have helped to raise animal awareness?
HSUS: Bee Movie is an amazing recent example which really highlights factory farming but in a very light hearted way. Babe of course helped to put a face on pork for children and adults. Charlotte’s Web, Finding Nemo, Free Willy, and many documentaries narrated by celebrities like the PBS Nature Series have been very influential.

E: What are some ways that people can stay up to date on new shows or get involved?
HSUS: We have a “One To Watch” section of our website where people can sign–up and receive updates. And of course you will find multiple ways to get involved through donations, getting involved in campaigns, and writing letters to legislators through the Humane Society Website.

E: Lastly, we couldn’t help but notice that when Bob Barker (famed animal advocate) retired from The Price Is Right, that Drew Carey continued to pass along his message of “keep your animals spayed and neutered,” did you have any influence on that?
HSUS: (laughter) No we did not, but what a great tribute to Bob Barker and proof that the mass media have the power to spotlight animal issues to vast audiences—literally at the speed of light.

How many colored sheep does it take to piss off the RSPCA? Well, any number will do — but Madonna’s latest decision to dye her personal sheep blue, pink, yellow, and green for a Vogue spread is apparently too much for the animal rights group. The singer and husband Guy Ritchie claim that the dye used was harmless to the animals, but the organization is definitely losing sleep over the stunt “Animals used in this sort of publicity stunt can lead to copycats. Even if the dye used in this instance is safe for the animals, other people might copy it with a dye that isn’t safe,” said a spokesperson for the RSPCA. Talk about a baaaad move. Couldn’t resist. [hollywood rag]

Jennifer Love Hewitt, Patricia Arquette and Nathan Lane are among the movie stars who have signed up to help America’s Humane Society with Puppy Mill Action Week — which started this past Sunday. The stars are urging people to avoid buying pups in stores this Holiday season and instead seek out new friends from shelters and homes. So-called puppy mills often breed dogs in terrible conditions. Celebs this week will appear in ads on behalf of the HSUS. [starpulse]

Jon Bon Jovi will headline a concert for a children’s medical charity at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ on December 21st. The Hope Concert III will benefit The Valerie Fund, a nonprofit organization providing support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit the official site. [count basie theatre]