The South Fork entertainment scene glows Memorial Day weekend, then kicks up in June and July. Award-winning Broadway actress/dancer/singer Sutton Foster performs some favorite show tunes at Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theatre May 29. On June 1, the American premiere of Damian Lanigan’s play Dissonance begins previews and runs through June 27 (story involves a classical string quartet in conflict with a rock musician).
Filmmaker Joe Lauro screens selected clips of Legends of Music June 7, 14, 21. Then Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson’s acclaimed Fifth of July previews July 6 and runs through August 1 (what happens to student anti-war activists after they graduate). The Comedy Club series starts July 3 with Joy Behar, then Darrell Hammond (July 5), Jake Johannsen (July 12), and David Alan Grier (July19). There’s professional children’s theater midweek and Joy Behar with Mario Cantone co-host the July 17 “Rock the Dock” benefit. The complete schedule is online at baystreet.org (731-725-9500).
Guild Hall, East Hampton, begins its summer programming with Peter Shaffer’s hit drama Equus (June 11 through July 3). Award-winning film and theater designer/director Tony Walton steers Alec Baldwin and young Sam Underwood. On July 5, Baldwin hosts a Hamptons International Film Festival documentary screening, and then “Midsummer’s Night Music and Classical Series” debuts Thursday, July 8 with the Manhattan String Quartet. Other early summer highlights are cabaret favorite Andrea Marcovicci performing movie songs from the 1930s to the 1990s (July 10), “Today’s View,” a conversational brunch benefit with Joy Behar, Meredith Vieira and Angela LaGreca (July 11), and the Hampton Institute (July 16-18), a weekend symposium with experts discussing U.S. finance, economy, culture and politics. Actress/singer Florence Henderson and zany comedian Bruce Vilanch do “A Bipolar Evening with Friends” (July 24) and Lee Davis’s popular “American Musical Theatre Salutes” Richard Rodgers’ first musical comedy partner—sharp, witty lyricist Lorenz Hart—with Broadway stars Anna Bergman, LeRoy Reams and musical director James Fallowell (July 25).
Guild Hall’s current art exhibit is its members’ show (through June 5), then works of noted American seascape artist Winslow Homer and a Mercedes Matter retrospective run June 19 through July 25. There’s a world cinema series, cabaret and theater performances to come as well as programs for children and teens. The schedule is online at guildhall.org (631-324-4050).
The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center opens its summer season May 29 with a unique trio fusing classical, bluegrass and world music—master banjoist Bela Fleck, tabla player Zakir Hussain, bassist Edgar Meyer. The next night, the outrageous and uninhibited comedienne Susie Essman is onstage. PAC is known for its variety of entertainers—incoming are blues master Taj Mahal and trio (June 4), comedian Steven Wright (June 11—adults only!), singer/songwriter Bryan Adams (June 12), Los Lonely Boys (June 19), Angelique Kudjo (June 26), John Hiatt (June 27), soul hitmakers The Stylistics (July 3), Joan Armatrading (July 10), Rufus Wainwright (July 11), popular Beatles cover band Fab Faux (July 17), Jay Black (July 18) and Cyndi Lauper (July 23-24). PAC also offers children’s theater and world cinema screenings. The website is whbpac.org and box office phone is 631-288-1500.
Southampton’s Parrish Art Museum starts an “Opera and Ballet in Cinema series” May 27 with the 2009 Austrian contemporary staging of Aida. The popular Landscape Pleasures weekend is June 12-13 (talks by Dominique Browning, April Gornik and Barbara Damrosch, Saturday cocktail party for patrons and Sunday tour of notable gardens). June 23 is an evening at Bedell Cellars vineyards, and the elegant Midsummer Party (July 10) honors Beth Rudin DeWoody and Ross Bleckner. The current exhibition is famed Southampton landscape artist Fairfield Porter (through June 13) followed by acclaimed contemporary landscape artist Rackstraw Downes (June 20 to Aug. 8). More details at parrishart.org (631-283-2118).
Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus hosts its well-known Writers Conferences (books, film, theater, poetry, children’s lit) July 14 to 25. Faculty include Alan Alda, Jules Feiffer, Kaylie Jones, Marsha Norman, Roger Rosenblatt. Evening programs are open to the public; check the website at sunysb.edu. The outstanding Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival starts July 28, and each village library presents films, authors’ talks, music and children’s programs—see weekly listings in local newspapers.
Other Hamptons news: Amagansett’s Mezzaluna AMG is now the chic Exile and East Hampton’s Matto became Serafina. Nello Summertimes re-opened in Southampton for dining and late-night dancing. Much-loved local NPR radio station WLIU-FM (88.3) is now Peconic Public Broadcasting at 71 Hill Street, Southampton.
