One can be forgiven for thinking that New York theatre is going to the dogs. After all, these are the dog days of August, plus orphan Annie would only be half as cute without her onstage pooch, Sandy; and who can forget the lovable pup in Present Laughter just a few months ago?

Okay, so Cats is the longest-running show in Broadway history, but countering that feline presence will be an Aug. 26 benefit revue, held just down the street, titled, "Dogs On Broadway (Right Next To Cats)."

This cabaret evening will benefit The DeWitt Clinton Park Dog Run, which producer Eric Sojka says needs "thousands of dollars to repair this mess of damage and neglect." Sojka is part of the DeWitt Clinton Dog Run Action Group.

Staging the show will be casting director Barry Moss (Hughes/Moss), who noted that the dog run attracts lots of actors who live in the neighborhood. "I thought, why not do what Mickey and Judy would do and put on a fabulous fundraising show?" he said in a statement.

Joining the creative team as pianist and music director will be Ken Lundie, with stars set for the show including Karen Mason (Sunset Boulevard), K.T. Sullivan (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Jim Stanek (Forum) and Marilyn Sokol (Shlemiel The First). Rusty Magee (composer of The Green Heart), Paul Castree, Sarah Knapp, David Staller and Joan Barber will take part, as well as performers from Moss' course in auditioning for musical theatre, "TVI Stars Of Tomorrow" will also be onhand. The event will also feature songs from Broadway composers and lyricists, such as Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty (Ragtime), offering two tunes from their Lucky Stiff. Bob Ost will contribute "Don't Look Now" and "There's A Special Place;" Nan Knighton (Scarlet Pimpernel) has penned the tune, "City Dogs;" and Alan Menken will offer "Treat Me Like A Dog," from an unproduced musical based on A Midsummer Night's Dream.

For tickets ($10, 2 drink minimum) and information on Dogs On Broadway, which takes place at Stardust Theatre, 1650 Broadway, call (212) 265-0145.

--By David Lefkowitz