STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Sundog Theatre, a Staten Island-based performing arts organization, will honor three individuals for their dedication to the arts community.
The carnival-themed evening is set for Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. LiGreci’s Staaten in West Brighton.
Recognized will be Yvette Washington-Wheatley, Dennis McKeon and Carol Ann Benanti.
Sponsorships will be matched by the Staten Island Foundation’s Diamond Match 2:1.
“The carnival theme gives a whole new slant to our benefit, including a special presentation to accompany the games and entertainment,” says Sundog Theatre’s Executive Director Susan Fenley. “Our honorees all have championed and advanced the arts in some way on Staten Island and for that we are grateful.”
Yvette Washington-Wheatley is a classically trained violinist/violist, who was born in the Bronx and raised on Staten Island in the Stapleton Housing Projects.
Her mother served in the community as a Parent Teacher’s Association Advocate and her father was a jazz enthusiast who led change as an influential catalyst that brought jazz education to the Island’s youth.
She also has two brothers who went on to become world-recognized musicians.
Washington-Wheatley has studied, performed, and taught music throughout her life and began as the instrumental music specialist at Staten Island Academy several decades ago.
She also created the Brighton Heights Reformed Church Youth Orchestra, which has performed on numerous occasions.
She espouses “Be Moved to Action and Not Just Emotion” with a vision of providing children a safe haven where they can thrive through the arts.
A 2023 Advance Woman of Achievement, she also has been honored by Project Hospitality, Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, NYS Women, is a William A. Morris Humanitarian, and was named by NY1 as Staten Islander of the Week.
Washington-Wheatley is committed to “Making a Difference in the Life of a Child…One Note at a Time.”
Dennis McKeon, a former manager at AT&T and broker for M. W. Marshall, founded the support network “Where to Turn,” a non-profit that has provided crisis relief services for more than 1,500 families on Staten Island. It also has helped victims of Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Katrina.
The organization performs litter removal and has provided graffiti cleanups for more than 1,000 locations, volunteers to shovel snow for thousands of seniors, free prom dresses for teens, a senior citizen prom, and an annual giveaway of holiday toys for children.
The arts are important to McKeon.
He has been running the annual “Beatles Blast” event at the historic St. George Theatre for the past 13 years.
In 2020 he opened up what is now known as The Prop Shop, which offers free items and costumes on loan to school and community performing groups.
The shop currently has over 3,500 props and 1,500 pieces of wardrobe and has been involved with over 200 productions.
Close to 100 percent of Staten Island’s performing groups use donated items from The Prop Shop.
McKeon is also a Chamber of Commerce Louis R. Miller awardee.
Carol Ann Benanti is the Inside Out columnist for the Advance/SILive.com, as well as a features and arts and entertainment writer.
As Inside Out columnist, she traces life’s poignant moments and highlights those whose generosity of spirit contribute to the betterment of Staten Island.
As a features writer, she conducts in-depth interviews and produces informative, fact based narratives.
And, as an arts and entertainment reporter she covers and photographs cultural galas, charity balls, celebrity benefit concerts and fundraising events.
She was formerly an Advance restaurant reviewer, and the inquiring photographer in a news segment called “Just Asking.”
For her role in the community, she was recognized with the Italian Heritage Award by former Borough President James P. Molinaro.
She also was the recipient of the Fourth Estate Award from the American Legion’s National Public Relations Commission for outstanding achievement in the field of journalism.
She has been lauded by a number of charitable and civic organizations including, the Emergency Children’s Help Organization (ECHO), the JCC, the Eger Foundation, the Miss Staten Island Scholarship Pageant Organization, The Italian Club of Staten Island Foundation, Unity Games, IlluminArt Productions, Soroptimist International, the Global Medical Relief Fund, and Casa Belvedere, the Italian Cultural Center on Grymes Hill, where she was bestowed the title of “Casa Cavalieri” and received “Dama Designation.”
For her interest in and commitment to Italian history and culture, the DaVinci Society at Wagner College, presented her with the Community Service Award at their annual commemorative dinner.
A supporter of the arts in her life and at the Advance, Benanti studied acting, dance, and voice in Manhattan, where she appeared in several off-Broadway productions.
HOW TO ATTEND
Tickets for adults are $150, and a table for 10 is $1,350.
Sponsorships (matched 2:1 by the Staten Island Foundation’s Diamond Match Grant) run from $250 for a Sundog friend to $7,500 for the platinum level.
For further information, contact the Sundog Theatre at 718 816-5453.
To purchase tickets, visit sundogtheatre.org and click on “Events”.
ABOUT SUNDOG THEATRE
Founded in 2002, Sundog Theatre is a Staten Island-based performing arts organization with several components:
Original, contemporary, and thought-provoking theatre in diverse Island venues;
In-school theatre, visual arts, dance, music, & literacy programs to help education come alive;
Acting lessons for youth from 9 to 17 years of age.
Educational touring productions for schools and youth organizations.
Through these programs, Sundog Theatre serves Staten Island with a mission of creating positive change through the arts.