Broadway Tails: Heartfelt Stories of Rescued Dogs Who Became Showbiz Superstars
By Martha Garvey
By
Bill Berloni and Jim Hanrahan; foreword by
Bernadette Peters The
Lyons Press, 240 pages, $16.95
Available on
Amazon.com If you have seen the Broadway musical
Legally Blonde, you may have been charmed by the show's two dogs: Elle Woods' feisty Chihuahua Bruiser, and the hairdresser's adorable bundle of bulldog. What you may not know is that those dogs' endearing performances are the result of the skilled and compassionate work of Bill Berloni, Broadway's go-to guy for animal training. After 30 years in the business, from dogs to birds to rats, from "Annie" to "Nick and Nora" to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," Berloni has finally written about his unusual career that bridges animal rescues and Broadway in this compelling book.
The book begins and ends with the story of a girl and a dog, from Annie and Sandy, to Elle and Bruiser. At 19, Bill Berloni began his animal trainer career by stumbling into a job training the very first "Sandy" dog for the musical that was to become "Annie." At the time, Berloni was still a very young and ambitious actor when he lucked into this job. It becomes clear from his first story about rescuing the dog who would be Sandy from a depressing Connecticut pound, that Berloni's heart is as big as Madison Square Garden. Though he volunteered to train Sandy in order to get his actor's union card, Berloni inevitably discovers his true calling - rescuing animals from dire circumstances and turning them into stars. And Sandy becomes Berloni's best friend for life, starring with five different Annies over seven years (including a tween
Sarah Jessica Parker), and becoming a furry advocate for shelter dogs.
This book is a treat for animal lovers and theater fiends - if you are both (as I am), it cannot be beat. Backstage theatre gossip abounds. Berloni loves the world of the theater, but he sees it with a clear eye. As a "behind the scenes" guy, he generously praises the crew and stage managers who make the magic happen. However, Berloni has often had to fight for time, money and rehearsal space for his performers. Some gifted and well-known directors reveal themselves as none too bright when it comes to the time and attention required to truly train an animal. (Good guys include Jerry Mitchell, Susan Stroman, and Mike Nichols.) On the other hand, it is no surprise to learn that Bernadette Peters, who yearly co-sponsors
Broadway Barks, a pet adoption fair on the Great White Way, is an animal lover. What is surprising to learn is that she is actually allergic to dogs - and that her tough-minded star power is the only reason Berloni and his staff got paid during a production of "Gypsy."
If you relish rescue stories, be prepared to bring Kleenex. Berloni, collaborating with his brother-in-law Jim Hanrahan, is a natural dramatist. You'll hold your breath as Berloni rescues animals from some despicable situations, and then brings out the best in them despite serous obstacles. Berloni's training techniques, based on his own instinct and his innate compassion, fascinate. Read this book, and I guarantee, you will never see a white rat, a little lamb, or a pig the same way - and you'll come away with an increased respect for actors who must share the stage with animals. Most especially, you'll root for Chico, the ferocious, abused Chihuahua from Newark who has become the adorable mascot - and trademark - of "Legally Blonde." His recovery and rehab rival anything that's ever happened to
Robert Downey Jr. - plus, he does eight shows a week!
