There’s a Wide Range of Cultural Events in August

Summer is a great time for the arts in the Hamptons, and August is particularly busy!

With so many all-ages events across the East End, it can be difficult to choose—take a gander at just some of the interesting events coming this month.

East Hampton’s historic Guild Hall has a plethora of events throughout August. St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble will perform on Sunday, August 11 at 8 p.m. The Ensemble consists of 22 virtuoso artists who perform everything from Baroque to contemporary pieces. The program for the evening: Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet in A major” and “Beethoven’s Septet E-flat major.” On Monday, August 12, the Hamptons International Film Festival will screen Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, hosted by Alec Baldwin, as part of their SummerDocs series. The documentary focuses on the career and life of the iconic Broadway star and features appearances by Nathan Lane, Tina Fey and more. On Thursday, August 15, the theater will present WordTheatre’s Telling Tales, starring Carla Gugino, Chris Bauer, Vincent Piazza and Zachary Quinto. WordTheatre is an innovative theater company that does live performances of contemporary short stories. The next day, August 16, will see the New York City Ballet on the Guild Hall stage, with Principal Dancer Jared Angle hosting an evening of excerpts from the company’s repertory. The Doo-Wop Project appears at Guild Hall on August 19, with the cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys. On Thursday, August 22, see a staged reading of Eugene Pack’s new comedy The Whisper, starring Matthew Broderick, Jane Krakowski and Jennifer Tilly. The performance benefits the Felix Organization, which enriches the lives of children in the foster care system. For more August events at Guild Hall, go to guildhall.org.

The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center will be busy in August, with an eclectic array of performances. On August 10, WHBPAC will present It’s Delightful, It’s De-Lovely: Celebrating Cole Porter, starring Karen Akers, Anna Bergman, Jeff Harnar, Sally Mayes, T. Oliver Reid and Steve Ross. The show is produced by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which is dedicated to keeping the art of cabaret alive. On August 11, check out a performance of Country Music Hall of Famer and multiple Grammy-winning artist Vince Gill. On August 18, Huey Lewis & The News will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their famous album Sports. Fans may remember their 1983 album ranking No. 2 on Billboard charts. On August 22, actress, author and comedian Rita Rudner will perform, with her witty one-liners sure to please. For something completely different, head to WHBPAC on August 24 to see modern dance company Pilobulus perform. This unique company has performed on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and Sesame Street and has collaborated on projects with Art Spiegelman, OK Go, Radiolab and more. On August 30, catch legendary singer Michael Bolton performing some of his greatest hits, like “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” and “Georgia on My Mind.” Close out the month with a performance by iconic Broadway song-and-dance man Tommy Tune, backed by the Manhattan Rhythm Kings. For more August performances at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, check out whbpac.org.

Riverhead’s Suffolk Theater has a fun month coming up. On Friday, August 9, check out the 8th Annual Long Island Comedy Festival, an evening of stand-up performed by comics like Jack Simmons, The Tonight Show’s Erik Rivera and “America’s Naughtiest Mommy,” Maria Walsh. On Friday, August 16, the theater will present Ragdoll: The Music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, a tribute to Frankie Valli and his amazing songs led by Eddy Rezzonico. Bring your kids to the theater on Saturday, August 17 for a matinee of the Al E. Gator Variety Show, with puppets, marionettes, “talented gnomes,” a puppet chorus and puppet-making activities. Lunch will be available for purchase. Later that evening, hire a babysitter and go see comedian Bobby Collins—the performance will feature an opening act by Stevie G.B. On Sunday, August 18, Polish musical sensations, the Karkowska Sisters Duo, will perform From Warsaw to NY. The piano/violin sister act will be presented in conjunction with the Riverhead Annual Polish Town Fair. On Monday, August 19, rock out with Nile Rodgers and his band, Chic, at the AFTEE (All For the East End) After-Party. On Friday, August 30, catch Dueling Pianos with Michael and Amy, a fun performance featuring two grand pianos. The show is billed as “part music, part comedy, part theater, part concert, improv and all chemistry” and is appropriate for all ages. On August 31, come to Broadway Tonite!, an evening of Broadway hits performed by a cast of talented stage vets. For more information on Suffolk Theater, go to suffolktheater.org.

Bay Street Theatre closes its mainstage season in August and finishes its Comedy Club in hilarious fashion. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum premiered at the Bay Street Theatre on August 6, starring Peter Scolari, Conrad John Schuck, Jackie Hoffman and Stewart Lane. The show runs through September 1. On Monday, August 12, the Comedy Club at Bay Street Theatre presents Long Island–raised Amy Schumer, popular TV stand-up comedienne, who can currently be seen on the Comedy Central series Inside Amy Schumer. The Comedy Club continues on Monday, August 19 with Paula Poundstone, who has been making audiences laugh on the radio, on TV, in film and onstage for years. The Comedy Club wraps for the season on Monday, August 26 with New Yorker Bobby Collins, the world-famous stand-up comic who has opened for Frank Sinatra, Cher and more and regularly appears on XM Satellite Radio. For more information about the Bay Street Theatre and its August events, go to baystreet.org.

Guaranteed to delight kids and adults alike, Puppets Take Long Island is a special puppetry festival presented by the Long Island Children’s Museum and Sag Harbor’s Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre. On Friday, August 9, go to Amagansett Square to see Minkie’s Adventure Show, featuring hand-carved hand puppets by A Couple of Puppets. A Couple of Puppets will also appear at the Southampton Center on Sunday, August 25, with fairy tale mashup The Princess, the Frog and the Pea. Barefoot Puppets presents Galapagos George, based on the true story of Lonesome George, at the Goat on a Boat. On Friday, August 16, Barefoot Puppets will perform Ooey Gooey at Amagansett Square, featuring fairy tales like The Three Little Kittens and Little Miss Muffet. For more information on Puppets Take Long Island, go to puppetstakelongisland.com.

Speaking of the Southampton Center, the East End’s newest venue, they’ve got a great slate of events coming up. On Friday, August 16, check out an outdoor screening of seminal shark shocker Jaws. The next day, on Saturday, August 17, catch Short Term 12, winner of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival. The best part about all of these movie screenings? They’re free! Tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so get there early! For a full list of screenings and more events at the Southampton Center, go to southamptoncenter.org.

The Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett is one of the best places to go for live music by talented and unique performers. The Talkhouse presents the David Bromberg Quartet on Saturday, August 17. On Sunday, August 25, catch Hamptonite and “Montauk” singer Rufus Wainwright perform some of his fab hits. Every Wednesday, come to the Talkhouse to do some karaoke. And finish off August on Saturday the 31st with Back to the Eighties, featuring tributes to some of the best music from
the 1980s.