Rescue Dogs Star with Helen Mirren on Broadway

When the play The Audience celebrated its opening night on Broadway on March 8th, an appreciative audience applauded not only the ever awe-inspiring acting ability of Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, but also the talent of two regal rescue Rovers who star as Queen Elizabeth II’s devoted dogs.

From her beloved childhood pets to Willow and Holly, whose padded paws (along with those of Her Majesty’s Dorgis, Candy and Vulcan) promenade the halls of Buckingham Palace today, more than 30 Corgis have played major roles in the life of the British monarch, so no story about Spot-loving sovereign would be complete without cameos by canines. In a search for stage-savvy representatives of the breed, tail-wagging thespians Mimi and Marco fit the bill.

Saved from a Massachusetts home, the curtain rose on a second act for the pair of Pembroke Welsh Corgis thanks to Corgi Rescue of New Jersey and Bill Berloni, whose crowning achievement over the course of more than 35 years has been to humanely train shelter and rescue animals and offer them new leases on life as actors on the stage as well as on the big and small screen.

The two barking buddies posed for a snapshot during rehearsals for The Audience:

In celebration of our first rehearsal today, join us in welcoming Mimi and Marco to #TheAudienceBway! #corgis pic.twitter.com/nAAowA8qVb

— The Audience (@TheAudienceBway) January 19, 2015

Photo Credit: The Audience Broadway/Twitter