Ah, the Miss America Pageant. From the 1920s to just a few short years ago, it put Atlantic City on the map just as much as any casino did. But in 2006, the pageant packed up shop and moved to Atlantic City: The Sequel Las Vegas, leaving our region (Atlantic City's not that far!) without the glitz and glamor that only fifty-two (one for every state, plus D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands) leggy ladies in swimsuits could provide.

Enter The Barking Beauty. Produced by Stone Soup Theatre Arts, a New York-based theatre collective that's starting to break into the Philly theatre scene, The Barking Beauty is truly a horse pageant of a different color. You see, the contestants are all a little more hairy than your average pageant queen—and it's not because they didn't have time to get Brazilians before competing. In fact, it's because every entrant into The Barking Beauty is, in fact, a dog. A very cute dog, dressed up in some facsimile of human clothing. It's something we don't endorse when Paris Hilton does it, but we have no problem with it for the sake of a little friendly competition when the winning pooch stands to win a photo shoot! (Haters of toy breeds take note: there is no size limit for the presented pooches, so expect to see a Mastiff or two next to the Maltese that are certain to be present.)

Proceeds from ticket sales and entry fees will go to benefit PAWS here in Philly (a pageant next month in Manhattan will benefit New York's Animal Haven). PAWS is a no-kill shelter, and with the recent news that another local no-kill shelter may have to close its doors due to a lack of funding, we think it's probably a good time to remember to support what may soon be one of the only such organizations left in the area.

The Barking Beauty
Sunday, March 16, 4-6PM
L'Etage (624 South Sixth Street, Entrance over Beau Monde on Bainbridge)
Tickets: $10
21+, unless accompanied by an adult

Can't get a ticket or won't be able to make it to Queen Village for the Barking Beauty? Phillyist will be liveblogging the entire pageant from start to finish. More on that coming Friday.

Image (it's not from The Barking Beauty) via Flickr user showbizsuperstar.