Bay Street Gala Returns Whence It Came

By Debbie Tuma

On July 19, after a five-year hiatus, Bay Street Theatre's Summer Gala Benefit Bash will at last be returning to the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Since 2003, when the theatre did not get a permit from the Village of Sag Harbor, the gala has taken place at various locations, including Nova's Ark, the Siena Spirituality Center and a private farm in Bridgehampton.

"We're so excited to finally be coming back to our original setting, near our theatre, and we expect our gala benefit to be bigger and better than ever!" said Julie Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for the theatre. "We're so grateful to the Village of Sag Harbor for allowing us to hold our summer gala back at Long Wharf."

Fitzgerald said she expects, as usual, to have a long list of luminaries attending this special event, which was rated last year as the "Best of the Best - Event of the Year" by Dan's Papers. Cast members of the theatre's production of Beyond Therapy will be there, including Kate Burton, Katie Finneran, Darren Goldstein, Darrell Hammond, Matt McGrath and Bryce Pinkham. Other expected guests include Hilary Knight, creator of Eloise, playwright Lanford Wilson, Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Seussical), Broadway producers Darren Bagert and Stuart Lane, NYS Assemblyman Fred Thiele and possibly the famous husband-wife team of Anne Jackson and Eli Wallach.

Gala festivities will include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a sit-down dinner provided by the renowned Robbins Wolfe caterers. There will also be dancing by starlight, to the music of Hank Lane Revue. This spot on the bay, overlooking the boats along Long Wharf, is the perfect setting for a summer gala. This year's entertainment will enhance this star-studded event with special performances by Sag Harbor's own jazz pianist, Judy Carmichael. There will also be performances by the cast of Bay Street's upcoming musical production of Ain't Misbehavin', which opens on August 5.

This year, Richard Kind ("Mad About You," "Spin City") will return as the guest auctioneer, and he will be joined by the wonderful comedienne Caroline Rhea ("The Caroline Rhea Show," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch") for the live Fantasy Auction which includes trips, jewelry, celebrity memorabilia and house seats for some of Broadway's hottest shows.

Sponsors for this year's event include lead sponsor Target, American Express, Suffolk County National Bank, Channing Daughters Winery, Southampton Publick House, Bridgehampton Florist, Party Rentals, Ltd., Robbins Wolfe eventeurs, Searles Graphics, Dan's Papers and Hamptons.com

Funds raised will go to support the many programs at Bay Street Theatre, from their Summer Mainstage Series, to their Comedy Club, to KidStreet programming for young audiences, to the Picture Show Classic Film Series. The monies also help support their important Educational Outreach Initiatives, including a Summer College Internship program, and a Young Playwrights Program, which brings theatre arts education to students in the East End's middle and high schools.

Bay Street Theatre is a non-profit institution dedicated to presenting new, classic and contemporary works of the highest quality, which challenge as well as entertain, speak to the diversity of the community and champion the human spirit. Their commitment extends to educational programs for all ages to foster the continued value of theatre as a vital art form for future generations.

Tickets to the 2008 Bay Street Theatre Summer Gala Benefit Bash are $500 each; tables of 10 are $5,000, and a limited number of preferred tables are available for $10,000. For further information or to purchase tickets, call 631-725-0818, or visit www.baystreet.org

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