Guild Hall’s New “Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater” to Open on Friday, July 12

The theater renovation at Guild Hall is complete. The theater’s much-beloved circus-tent ceiling motif and iconic balloon chandelier remain, and non-original elements, including moldings and wallcoverings, have been updated to reflect the theater’s elegant 1930s design more closely. Ben Krupinski Builder was the construction company for this comprehensive project. Dozens of local and regional subcontractors contributed specialties to this near-total infrastructure upgrade of the 24,000-square-foot building and 46,000-square-foot property, which serves as the gateway to East Hampton Village.

It may be noted that the upgraded features bring the theater’s functionality up to contemporary performance needs while maintaining the key elements of its historic design, including the restoration of the stage’s scalloped proscenium frame, which was part of the theater’s original design by Aymar Embury II.

Andrea Grover, the Executive Director of Guild Hall, told hamptons.com, “I am most proud of how the building looks and feels to visitors now. It’s still our beloved Guild Hall but is brighter, inviting, and functions at the highest level. Everyone who visits looks around with amazement and relays this experience to us.”

The 2024 Guild Hall performing arts programming will celebrate the theater’s reopening by hosting a benefit concert on Friday, July 12, at 8 PM. It is titled  “An Evening with Billy Porter.”  Mr. Porter is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actor and singer widely known for his tour-de-force performance in Broadway’s Kinky Boots and his portrayal of Pray Tell in the FX series Pose.

For this historic evening, guests are encouraged to dress in creative attire, walk the red carpet, and celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated theater.

Guild Hall first announced in 2021 a “facility-wide capital improvements project and campaign” to usher in “a period of 21st-century revitalization for the legendary multi-arts center.”

In honor of a landmark gift received from the Morgan family, Guild Hall announced the new “Hilarie and Mitchell Theater,” thus replacing “The John Drew Theater.” Andrea Grover, the Executive Director of Guild Hall, said, “Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan are kindhearted and generous individuals who helped Guild Hall nearly complete our fundraising goal through a landmark gift to finish the theater renovation. Hilarie joined the Board of Trustees in 2021. The Morgan’s interests are in the arts, education, and children’s health, and their giving supports community vitality.”

The Morgans own a home in Sagaponack and are known to be deeply committed to the arts and education. Hilarie Morgan is a former psychologist who serves on the Boards of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Norton Museum of Art. She joined the Guild Hall Board of Trustees in 2021. Her husband, Mitchell Morgan, is the Founder and Chairman of Morgan Properties, a national leader in the investment and management of multifamily properties. Mitchell chairs Temple University’s Board of Trustees and was recently elected to the Guggenheim Museum’s Board.

The theater at Guild Hall renovation plan also included new technical systems, which were placed throughout the theater, as well as a relocated control booth in the balcony. Guild Hall has stated that award-winning Peter Pennoyer Architects oversaw the renovations. They are a leader in the renovation and preservation of historic architecture and were in consultation with globally recognized theater design experts Apeiro Design.

It may be noted that the upgraded features bring the theater’s functionality up to contemporary performance needs while maintaining the key elements of its historic design, including the restoration of the stage’s scalloped proscenium frame, which was part of the theater’s original design by Aymar Embury II.

The Guild Hall 2024 full season includes a wide variety of performances, films, talks, and more, with a diverse lineup of programs in the theater that will make full use of the extensive technical improvements. In addition to the reopening event with Billy Porter, Guild Hall will present concerts with Rufus Wainwright, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, G.E. Smith’s Portraits featuring Yola, Valerie June, and Lola Kirke, Robert Glasper, Taylor Mac, and others.

HamptonsFilm SummerDocs will return, as will the beloved Stirring the Pot culinary conversation series with Florence Fabricant featuring Daniel Humm, Giada de Laurentiis, Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald of Levain Bakery, and Marcus Samuelsson.

Guild Hall will launch a new series, Academy Icons, a mini-retrospective of films by documentary director and producer Susan Lacy, followed by conversations with special guests. New York City Ballet, a favorite for years, will host their unique “behind the curtain” performance, and Hamptons Dance Project returns to Fireplace Lodge. Comedians Zainab Johnson, Dulcé Sloan, and humorist David Sedaris will bring the funny.