Note from the editor: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly compilation of tales of Staten Islanders creating impact, gaining recognition, giving back to the community, and generally making our borough a unique place to call home. Do you have an Inside Out story? Carol Ann Benanti may be reached by email at [email protected].
The Staten Island Shakespearan Theatre roasts Jennifer Sammartino Mallen and presents her with a crown, the “Shakey” Award, and a cake to celebrate. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
New York’s Staten Island. They bring back memories of Dean Martin’s Celebrity Roasts, when the celebrities who made Tinseltown famous took center stage and were subjected to jokes, ribbings, rapid puns, and some hilarious riddles.
On Staten Island, community leaders who tirelessly strive to improve our borough are also the focus of toasts and roasts that are met with wild cheers and giggling fits.
Roastee, center, roasters, friends, and Jennifer Sammartino Mallen. (Source: Staten Island Advance/SIST)
The requirement is that the roastee—this year it was Jennifer Sammartino Mallen—must be resilient enough to endure the boisterous audience and take in all of the teasing, scathing remarks, and amazing surprises with a grin and a positive attitude.
With the “Shakey” Award, Jennifer Sammartino Mallen accepts. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
A lively and entertaining group of Staten Islanders, including family members and friends, take on the role of roasters. They come out to make lighthearted remarks and have even been known to spill the beans when given significant prodding.
The best part, though, is that the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre (SIST), a company that presents Shakespeare’s plays and other classical theater productions, always benefits from the gala event held at LiGreci’s Staaten.
Cara Liander and Jennifer Sammartino Mallen, left. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
The Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre’s producing creative director, Frank Williams, always begins the occasion with a poignant statement.
The sense of stewardship and being a part of SIST’s incredible 50-year history and mission to provide Staten Island residents with top-notch Shakespearean, classical, and original theater as well as an artistic opportunity for the actors, directors, and designers who have chosen to call this borough home are among the best and most rewarding parts of being the artistic director of SIST. In spite of this, he said from the podium, “here we stand today, fifty years and more than three hundred productions later, through high times and lows, times on the verge of having a dark stage forever, times of unbelievable tenacity, survival, and achievement in the face of adversity and sometimes even world crisis.”
Cara Liander and Frank Williams. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
He continued by saying that the SIST is pleased to be the longest continuously operating theater group on Staten Island, having overcome innumerable obstacles and numerous iterations.
The Staten Island Shakespearean Theater’s board of directors chair, Cara S. Liander, took the microphone and expressed gratitude to everyone present.
Seeing so many people you know and some you have never seen before is amazing.We also appreciate everyone’s attendance for our Sixth Roast, which supports the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company. We didn’t need to bring our own chairs to the event, which makes me very delighted to be back at the Staaten tonight. In addition to celebrating Jennifer Sammartino Mallen, we are also beginning the celebration of the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre’s 50th anniversary tonight. Is it not unbelievable? To thunderous applause, she remarked, “There’s something older than Jen, actually.”
Cara Liander roasts Jennifer Sammartino Mallen, left, at LiGreci’s Staaten. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
Liander mentioned that the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre is starting a year-long fundraising campaign called $50,000 for 50 Years in celebration of the theater group’s 50th season.
Other roasters Jenny Kelly (left) and Cara Liander (right) are seated during the Roast of Jennifer Sammartino Mallen. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
“We are paying tribute to Jennifer Sammartino Mallen tonight,” she said. Or a normal Thursday night at Jen’s house. Jen is the most amazing, sweet, charming person. I’m sorry, Jen. You have penmanship that I still can’t read. First, though, the moment Jen has been looking forward to all her life. Just this morning, we hot-glued a crown and costume together in the style of a theatrical production in order to be crowned and robed.
On the left are Doreen Cugno, Cara Liander, Luanne Sorrentino, Jenny Kelly, Rachel Somma Devlin, Amanda Straniere, and Edwina Martin, a public administrator, who attended Jennifer Sammartino Mallen’s roast and toast at LiGreci’s Staaten. (SIST) Staten Island Advance (Courtesy/SIST)
CROWNING JEN S
Liander continued by explaining that there is a certain amount of anxiety that permeates every year when she approaches someone to be honored with a roast. However, before she could continue her inquiry, Jen yelled “yes” when she inquired whether she would be up here all night being made fun of.
Vincent Innocente and Jennifer Sammartino Mallen dance together. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
I want to take a moment to pull an audible and briefly discuss my appreciation for Jennifer Sammartino Mallen, even though I know we’re all here to commemorate her tonight by making jokes. She went on to say, “We really only roast the ones we love.”
Mallen, Jennifer Sammartino, points to the audience. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
On Staten Island, Jen’s role
The Executive Director of Community Media of Staten Island, Jennifer Sammartino-Mallen, puts in a lot of overtime behind the scenes to highlight the best that Staten Island has to offer.
She has been a steadfast supporter of Staten Island’s non-profits and their goals, constantly pushing for their advancement.
Liander explained how she was chosen to be a teen correspondent for the Staten Island Advance when she was just a teenager.
Edwina Martin, public administrator, and Shawn Stradford. (Source: Staten Island Advance/SIST)
Jen taught me how to write and she taught me the importance of being a story teller, how to look at things through different lenses with different perspectives, how to convey what I wished to share and express to the world that would make people care about what I had to say. She taught me about the importance of deadlines, and I was always amazed how she even met them .because every time I stopped by her desk, she would always be at lunch! Seriously, this chick would take 3 hour lunches almost every single day. But she got her job done, got it done impressively well, and always on time.
Vincent Innocente gestures from the podium. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
She added that everyone says Jen is just a really great person. And it s true. Jen, thank you so much for volunteering to be our roastee for tonight s event. Jen, I ve never seen you so scared before in my life. This might be your last meal!
Jenny Kelly sings from the podium. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
From the left, Diane Gattullo and Edwina Martin, Public Administrator. (Source: Staten Island Advance/SIST)
THE EVENING S ROASTERS
The list of recognizable roasters included, local musician and banker Vincent Innocente, who was roasted last year, former Deputy Borough President who Liander described as the punny Ed Burke, community advocates, Melissa Ferrari, Meg Ventrudo, Conference House Park Director, John Kilkullen, Chris Ferrera, and the evening s host, Alex Lutz, vice president, Public Relations & Marketing and Richmond University Medical Center and host of Vital Signs on Community Television.
Alex Lutz roasts from the podium. (Source: SIST)Advance of Staten Island
From the left, Doreen Cugno and Luanne Sorrentino. (Source: SIST)Staten Island Advance
JEN TAKES THE MIC
After greeting the crowd with heartfelt comments and a few innocent sarcastic remarks, Jen pointed out that she was honored to roast the fantastic and talented Vincent Innocente last year.
Meg Ventrudo offers comments from the podium. (Courtesy/SIST)Staten Island Advance
At the time, I had no idea that I d be back here a year later. I am honored and humbled to receive the Shakey Award. I think I ll wear this crown every day from now on. Thank you my dear family – and my friends new and old- for coming tonight. The fact that you are all here this evening means everything to me, she said in addressing the crowd.
Family members and friends share in the merrymaking. (Courtesy/SIST)Staten Island Advance
I am completely overwhelmed by the laughs and the love shown to me at the Roast, hosted by the Staten Island Shakespeare Theatre. I want to thank Cara Liander for her vision and execution of this amazing evening. I never could have imagined such a perfect night and I am forever in debt to Cara, her board, and all of the roasters and performers for this magical experience. Special thanks to Vincent Innocente, Jenny Kelly, Ed Burke, Alex Lutz, Melissa Ferrari, Chris Ferrera, Meg Ventrudo, John Kilkullen, Marguerite Maria Rivas, Doreen Cugno and Luanne Sorrentino for making this an evening to remember, she
The evening came to a close when Sammartino was honored with SIST s Shakey Award for her dedication and support to the community of Staten Island and beyond.
Liander capped the evenings program: Congratulations, Jen. We love you. We adore you and we couldn t have done any of this without you.
CELEBRATIONS – DEC. 8 TO DEC. 14
DEC. 8
Happy birthday Sunday to Kristen Long, Artie Fernandez, Sal Troia, Sylvia Lara, Barbara Pizzo, Dana Walker, Kathleen Marie Bozzo who turns 19, Keri-Lynn Flagello, Andy LaChance, Aiden Kelly, Cathy Mione, Mike Fiducia, Martha Falcone and Christopher Castore who turns 48.
DEC. 9
Monday is birthday time for George Fries, Artie Waldhelm and Michael McWeeney.
DEC. 10
Birthday greetings on Tuesday to Jeff Shelley, Diane Lee, Rose Currenti, Nicholas Francis Machia, Geri Anne Borkowski, Matthew Cintulla, Gina Maria Magras and Steven Blaine who turns 67.
DEC. 11
The happiest of birthdays Wednesday to attorney, Christine Martin, Michael Manna, Danny Schnell, Judi LaMantia, Ann Kobayashi, Joshua Carp and Michael Adamo, who turns 30, Meghan Hagg, a former Miss Staten Island Outstanding Teen.
DEC. 12
Birthday best Thursday to Caitlyn Nicole Tobio and Jade Regina, who turn 24, Darnise DiRocca, Frank Reali, Lucille O Keefe, Meghan Timmins, Alexis Lynn Galant, Roberta Dixon, Caitlin Noelle McHugh, Lisa Macron, Dr. Joseph Castellano, Timothy Sweeney, Elvira Tepedino Noss, Nina Prashker and Kristie Rose Finamore.
DEC. 13
Happy birthday Friday to Betty Ann McQuillan, Susan Huckvale Arann, Rob Horn who turns 42, Anthony Taylor turns 27), Anthony David Socci, Linda Woods, Dennis Daniel Donovan, Tony Lordo Jr., Michael Pellechia and twins Victoria and Adrienne Scrima.
DEC. 14
Saturday is birthday time for Terry D Aquila, Dominick Caracciolo, Elizabeth Siegardt, Bill Goins. Aurora Faith Ruggiero who turns 7 years-old.
Happy wedding anniversary to Danielle and Keith Palladino, and to Jessie and John Lorentzen, who celebrate their 21st.
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