Sundog Theatre, Inc. is a performing arts organization with four components:

— Original and contemporary theatre productions

— Arts-in-education programs in theatre, dance, music, and visual arts to help make learning come alive in schools

— Educational touring productions for young people

— Acting classes.

We are based in Staten Island, NY, however our performance and education spaces are located in various theaters, schools, parks, churches, colleges, museums, and cultural venues.

When the sun shines through ice crystals in the sky, sundogs appears.
They appear in pairs, bookending the sun like companions — or dogs — and reflecting its impression. Just as sundogs reflect the sun, it is the artist’s calling to hold a mirror to humanity. For the past 24 years, through humor and drama, Sundog Theatre has presented its theatrical works–many of them original– to show humankind through an exploratory light. Our many in-school and educational touring programs support its mission to create lasting, positive change in young peoples’ lives through the arts.

Sundog Theatre seeks to create positive change through educational and theatrical programming that enhances the culture and community of Staten Island. We serve a diverse constituency that includes BIPOC, LGBTQ+, economically struggling and underserved, the disabled, and multi-language learners. Sundogs reflect the sun’s light, just as the arts mirror civilization. Using the arts to reflect humankind through an exploratory light, we seek to expand the way people see themselves and the world around them.

Why Sundog Theatre? Because we do the following:

• Produce thought provoking main stage and educational touring theatre enjoyed by thousands every year through which many artists, designers, writers, tech people and audiences thrive and learn;

• Serve specific needs of schools and organizational programs with more than 100 educational programs annually in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts at 45+ sites;

• Work with diverse student populations: general education, special needs, and multilingual learners. Our programs help make learning
  come alive for all students;

• Develop and provide educational touring shows that tie in with school curricula and address issues such as bullying, drugs,
  immigration, and smoking.

• Cultivate and shape budding performers onstage through weekly acting and musical theatre classes.

• Offer opportunities worldwide for playwrights to submit for our annual Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry project and play reading series.

• Foster loyal, long standing relationships with our communities of artists, students, teachers, theatre goers, and community partners.

Sundog Theatre was formed from the dream of six people of diverse backgrounds. We initially presented original, contemporary, and thought provoking theatre on Staten Island.

Incorporated in August 2002, we presented an original comedy that inaugurated the Muddy Cup’s 75-seat theatre in Stapleton.

Our vision includes portraying the human condition through comedy and drama in order to shed light on it and challenge audiences to think and explore. Sometimes theatre is inspirational. At other times it is pure entertainment. Both serve important purposes.

Sundog’s arts-in-education programs began in 2004. They have expanded to serve over 40 schools and community organizations with 80+ arts programs in theatre, dance, music, visual arts, and literacy.

The Theatre has worked with hundreds of artists and technicians from throughout NYC. Additionally, Sundog has commissioned original plays and musicals featuring iconic people and organizations from Staten Island.

We have collaborated with many Staten Island and Manhattan organizations for theatrical and educational programs, including Lincoln Center, Wagner College, Center for Arts Education, other Island theatres, Alice Austen House, SI Children’s Museum, SI Zoo, Conference House, SI Museum, St. George Theatre, NYC Parks & Recreation, the JCC, and more.

Sundog’s annual touring productions bring literature, Island figures, and social issues to light for thousands of audience members throughout NYC, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut. The shows have also tackled social issues of drug abuse, bullying, and smoking.

Theatre and the arts give us entertainment, teaching tools, and  a way into the human psyche that reveals truth and inspires.