A Round of "APaws" for Nana, the K9 Star of NBC's, PETER PAN LIVE!

Bowdie, Stars as Nana in NBC's Peter Pan Live. Photo by NBC.com

By: Staff Writer

If the chatter on Twitter is any indication, NBC’s Peter Pan Live, was definitely popular TV viewing for the night, and whether you loved or hated the performances of Allison Williams, as Peter Pan or Christopher Walken, as Captain Hook, one thing’s for sure the performance of Bowdie, as Nana, the Darling’s beloved dog, was a hit! Being a star of a live television musical is pretty major for a dog that, according to Today.com, is a mixed poodle breed, rescue from Utah.

The very nature of live means anything can happen, so you have to hand it to the producers who upped the risk factor by adding the very unpredictable talents of a animal star to the show. However, rest assured there were many hands working hard to insure everything, including the tail wags, went off without a hitch. Bowdie, just like every other cast member, went through months of preparation before his star making performance tonight. William Berloni, an animal trainer, with more than 35 years of experience rescuing animals and turning them into Broadway stage performers, is the man responsible for making sure Bowdie hit his marks and didn’t mark the stage!

While Bowdie’s performance will be remembered as scene stealing, especially for those of us who love dogs, rumor has it, that Lexi, the understudy, was ready and waiting in the wings should stage fright have set in. Perhaps this very fact will keep Bowdie's head from swelling to big as lets face it, as any actor knows, everybody is replaceable. While Lexi, may be waiting in the wings tonight the applause go to Bowdie! Job well done!

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Animal Trainer, Willian Berloni, rehearses with Bowdie before the live telecast. Picture by NBC