Guild Hall's Renovation Begets
the Moveable Feast

By Tiffany Razzano

Guild Hall's John Drew Theater has been such an epicenter for the performing arts for decades that its current construction has left many residents and visitors perplexed, and under the erroneous impression that Guild Hall events are at a standstill. But the theater is very much alive and well, with many performances being held at off-site locations. While construction will continue until October, the culturally minded can still enjoy high-caliber performances presented by Guild Hall.

Construction at Guild Hall began five years ago, when the museum considered borrowing artwork from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Testing showed that humidity in the space fluctuated too much for them to be permitted to borrow pieces from major institutions. So they started the upgrade with the three museum galleries, gutting walls and installing new insulation, vapor seal and an up-to-date HVAC system. Next, the Boots Lamb Education Center, located in the basement, was swapped with the admin offices on the first floor, giving it more prominence.

The final piece of the puzzle is the John Drew Theater, where construction began last year. "It's also the most ambitious part," said Ruth Appelhof, executive director of Guild Hall. "We're in the last stages of construction, and the most complicated."

None of this has deterred the Guild Hall staff from organizing a schedule of great events for the season, through some creative coordinating to find off-site locations. This year, Guild Hall is presenting at The Bridgehampton Community House, The Jewish Center of the Hamptons and The Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Fork in Bridgehampton, as well as Guild Hall's education center and even a few backyards. "There were a lot of logistical issues," Appelhof said, "but in fact we have reached out and moved far beyond our East Hampton confines, and reached out to a new audience."

Coming up are staged play readings including Golda's Balcony, starring Barbara Rosenblat on August 23 at the Jewish Center. Chere Maitre: The Correspondence of Gustave Flaubert and George Sand, starring Kathleen Chalfant and Harris Yulin will be read on August 24 at the Unitarian Church.

Another major Guild Hall event is a special performance by the American Ballet Theatre on August 30, at the home of the chairman of Guild Hall's board of directors, Mickey and Leila Straus in East Hampton. (See related article, page 33.)

There's also the Garden As Art Tour held August 22 and 23 through exclusive East Hampton gardens (many of which have never been seen before). It kicks off with a breakfast and lecture by Mac Griswold at The Maidstone Club. "They're so amazing," said Appelhof of the gardens, "beautiful flowers and pools and grottos, and everything you would imagine."

The Guild Hall location itself is operating at full tilt with the Larry Rivers art show and gala, focusing on his major early works from the 1950s and 1960s (see related article on page 33). The paintings will be on display until October, with a free opening reception on August 9. For schedules and information, go to www.guildhall.org.

Back to Contents