Bay Street Theater Artistic Director Scott Schwartz Dishes About The Summer Season

In a free wielding press conference held in the lobby of the Bay Street Theater on Thursday, April 25, Scott Schwartz, Bay Street’s Artistic Director, was beaming. Record ticket sales, record gross revenue, a growing educational program were just some of the reasons. Schwartz has a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for all things Bay Street. He believes with this year’s programming, 2019 may be the best ever. His six years and counting as Artistic Director has been a total success. He thanked the full time subscribers and loyal Bay Street audience for helping him grow the programs.

Schwartz stressed that this year’s 28th Annual Summer Gala will be at a new location. The Gala is moving from the Sag Harbor Wharf to Wölffer Estate Vineyard and will be on Saturday, July 6. Another change is the special live performance will not precede the Gala but follow it, being presented in an adjoining tent. The Celebrity Emcee will be Isaac Mizrahi. Scott said, “It’s going to be special, we have some surprises using music from the 1960’s hit Broadway musicals!”

The 2019 Main Stage Season will present The Prompter (May 28 – June 16), Safe Space (June 25 – July 21), My Witch ( July 17 – July 21), and Annie Get Your Gun (July 30 – August 25).

Schwartz also was proud to announce, “Long time Bay Street friend Robert Klein,” along with Colin Quinn were added to the Comedy Club Summer Line Up. He note the Paula Poundstone’s show (May 25) has a few seats left, but is “almost completely already sold out.”

The biggest news at the press conference was his announcement of a joint venture, perhaps the first joint outdoor full collaboration with East Hampton’s Guild Hall ever. It will manifest in a “modernized” production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet with a music score by Pat Benatar and her husband Neil Giraldo. The show is a continuation of Bay Street’s “Under the Stars,” and will be in Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor (August 16 and August 17 at 7 p.m.). It is free. Schwartz said, “The last such event drew over 400 folks, three years ago. I am so pleased to be working with Guild Hall’s Josh Gladstone.”

He also proudly announced the Summer Intern Production will be August 8 through August 10 at 4 p.m. on the Main Stage. This year’s army of interns “come from 36 different U.S. States.”

He stated that there are four years remaining on the lease of the facility at Bay Street and they wish to renew that lease, but are also exploring other options for their growing projects. He stressed, “Our main objective is to stay in this space, we are very happy here.”

In closing, Schwartz praised the efforts of Executive Director Tracey Mitchell noting the success of Bay Street’s programming is a team effort.

Bay Street is located at 1 Bay Street in Sag Harbor. For more information on future programming, call 631-725-9500 or visit www.baystreet.org.