Richard Kind, Betty Buckley, Elizabeth Ashley, And More To Appear At Bay Street Theater’s 26th Annual Summer Gala

Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor is inviting you to the party of the year on Saturday, July 15. Emceed by Ashlie Atkinson, Bay Street’s 26th Annual Summer Gala will certainly be memorable with a beautiful venue, delicious food, great company, and all for a wonderful cause. Following a live show, there will be dining, dancing, and mingling with Broadway starts, including Obie award-winning Lois Smith, Tony award-winning Betty Buckley, and more on the Long Wharf.

“Ask anyone who was at last year’s gala — I think you’ll hear that it’s one of the most fun nights in the Hamptons,” said Tracy Mitchell, Executive Director of Bay Street Theater. “And to do it and know that you’re supporting free access for students to the arts, and a home for many other local not-for-profits, well it’s the old cliché but it’s true—a win-win for all.”

The evening will include a special presentation by Tony Award-winning actress Elizabeth Ashley, who is best known for her work in HBO’s Treme, Barefoot in the Park, and You Can’t Take It With You. She will present an award to honoree Michael Wilson, director of Bay Street’s Grey Gardens and Broadway’s The Trip to Bountiful.

The Cocktail Reception will commence at 5:30 p.m., followed by the awards presentation and performance at 6 p.m., and cocktails, silent and live auctions led by celebrity auctioneer Richard Kind, dinner, and dancing at 7:30 p.m. Items featured in the silent and live auctions include a week at the beach in St. Barth’s for four at a luxury two bedroom WIMCO villa with unparalleled concierge service and complimentary provisioning, as well as a personalized original song written about the winner by Tony Award nominated composer Andrew Lippa, a Viking river cruise along the Danube for two, accommodations for two for five nights in Venice, a walk on role in Bay Street’s summer production of Kiss Me, driving experiences by Tesla and Maserati, tickets to Broadway shows such as Come From Away, Hamilton (with a backstage tour), Hello, Dolly!, dining and spa packages, and so much more. You really don’t want to miss this silent and live auction.

Imagine yourself here with some of Broadway’s elite performers. (Sketch: Mike Billings Design)

Andrea Wahlquist is serving as Gala Chair with Betty Buckley and Daryl Roth as Honorary Chairs. The evening will honor Christine Wächter-Campbell and Bill Campbell, J.C. Compton and Nicholas Wentworth, as well as Michael Wilson.

“The annual gala is a wonderful event and Bay Street’s only fundraiser of the year,” shared Mitchell. “Besides being a fun night in the theater and on the Wharf, the gala is the cornerstone of our fundraising allowing us to support more than 30 other community organizations on the East End. We are so very grateful to Mayor Schroeder and village trustees for use of the Wharf for this important night.”

Past attendees at Bay Street’s Gala include Broadway and film luminaries, business leaders and some of the most influential people in our community: Arlene & Alan Alda, Julie Andrews, Alec Baldwin, Chris Bauer, Joy Behar, Bob Balaban, Mel Brooks, Kim Cattrall, Chevy Chase, Blythe Danner, Edie Falco, Jules Feiffer, Dan Gasby, Kelsey Grammer, Billy Joel, Star Jones, Richard Kind, Nathan Lane, Susan Lucci, Terrence McNally, Rosie O’Donnell, Mercedes Ruehl, Liev Schreiber, Stephen Schwartz, Susan Stroman, B. Smith, Aida Turturro, Naomi Watts and Robert Zimmerman, to name a few.

“We are thrilled to be able to be the Cultural Center of Sag Harbor and beyond,” shared Mitchell.

Tickets to Bay Street’s 26th Annual Summer Gala begin at $425 for Young Professionals (21 to 40-years-old) and $1,500 for individual tickets.

The Summer Gala will take place at the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.baystreet.org. For VIP tables contact Kim Fink at 631-725-0818.