Learn about ways to
contribute your time and talent.
Sundog program and activities include:
- Main-stage productions with professionally oriented actors, stage crew, and staff;
- A haven for original works by established and emerging playwrights;
- Productions for Staten Island's youth and civic organizations to help educate in the classroom as well as cultivate new theater audiences;
- A contribution to the local community and ultimately a destination for cultural outings to broaden the experiences and interests of New York theatre goers, adding to the cultural life and commerce of Staten Island;
- A resident company and artistic outlet for the many performers and designers in Staten Island and the tri-state area.
Sundog Theatre was the dream of six people from diverse backgrounds and experiences that included directing, performing, education, administration, technical, producing, and finance. We held meetings for months and engaged in much discussion of how we wanted our theatre to look and act. At the time, there were only a small handful of theatres on the Island, and none that developed original material.
We formed Sundog Theatre to present original and contemporary theatre on Staten Island. The Theatre incorporated in August 2002. Our first production was the original comedy by Steven Somerville, Jason’s Journey, at the Muddy Cup’s 75-seat theatre space in Stapleton.
In March 2003, we began our Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry project. This consisted of six original one-acts that were written (on the Staten Island Ferry), directed, rehearsed, and performed within 24 hours. Press for these arts council-funded, sold-out shows was extensive. Enthusiastic audiences and artists convinced Sundog to present this project annually.
In the summer of 2003, Sundog collaborated with Wagner College Theatre for The Fantasticks. The show had recently closed its 42-year run off Broadway. Our co-production sold out its eight performances, reaching over 800 audience members. Again, press coverage and positive reviews were extensive throughout the Island. In conjunction with this, Sundog also showcased Heart and Music, a cabaret presentation of New York’s newest well-known composers.
During the 2003/2004 December holidays, Sundog presented the premiere of Santa Claus is Missing, by Islanders Morna Murphy and Ralph Martell, adapted from a story by L. Frank Baum (The Wizard of Oz). This original musical was presented for hundreds of children for low or no cost at locations such as the SI Children’s Museum, Island churches, Cromwell Center, and Goodhue Children’s Aid.
Sundog co-produced The Roar of the Greasepaint,the Smell of the Crowd with Wagner College Theatre in the summer of 2004. During Fall 2004, we saw our first full-length commissioned, original play, My Mariners, come to life at Veterans Memorial Hall. Written by Damon DiMarco and Jeffrey Harper, it was sponsored by Snug Harbor Cultural Center. In addition to presenting Sorry Wrong Number at Snug Harbor’s Radio Theatre, Sundog also produced Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry ’05 and ‘06, Blood Brothers and A Christmas Carol at Snug Harbor’s Veterans Memorial Hall.
In early 2007, we created and produced the critically praised original Once Upon a Mime,written and directed by Susan Fenley, at Wagner College’s Stage One. In addition to presenting Scenes… at a new venue, Christ Church Theatre, Sundog also mounted Charlotte’s Web at CSI’s Center for the Arts as part of their 2007 spring season. We also presented four Charlotte’s Web performances at the 900-seat Concert Hall with Enrichment Through the Arts at CSI and a sold-out tour, reaching over 7,000 children and adults.
Please check out our Past
Productions and Photos sections on this
site for more information.
Who are the artists and technicians involved with Sundog?
Since its inception, the Theatre has worked with hundreds of actors, directors, writers, designers, and technicians from Staten Island and the metropolitan New York City area. We also have collaborated on projects with artistic directors of most of the other Island theatres and performance troupes.
Arts Residencies for Schools and CBOs
Sundog Theatre offers arts-based residencies in New York City public and private schools and community-based organizations. We bring professional teaching artists into these organizations to work with children of all ages in various arts disciplines. Our artists, all of whom are working professionals in one or more arts disciplines and some of whom are certified teachers, are adept at working with various age groups and inspiring them during and after school.
For schools, Sundog Theatre supplements classroom lessons to assist teachers in presenting subjects such as English, history, social studies, and the arts. The programs we offer in theatre, mime, improvisation, conflict resolution, dance and music give students alternative ways to process information. Sundog’s programs adhere to the NYC Department of Education Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts and we have vendor and contract numbers for work in NYC schools.
At community based organizations and schools, Sundog offers after-school programs that teach young people to persevere, think critically and creatively, work cooperatively, hone listening skills, explore imagination and innovation, consider career opportunities, and discover the arts.
Please look at our arts in
education section on this website for
more information.
