Bay Street Theatre Announces Steinbeck Festival May 1-4

Sag Harbor has been home to many famed writers, chief among them John Steinbeck, who will be honored in May during Bay Street Theatre’s second annual Steinbeck Festival.

Activities to honor Steinbeck’s contributions to Sag Harbor Village will include three days of films, a waterfront cocktail party, and the Travels with Charley Dog Walk in partnership with the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation.

Jill Rappaport—the award-winning animal advocate and NBC’s animal welfare correspondent—will serve as celebrity host at both the cocktail party and the dog walk. Proceeds from the weekend benefit Bay Street Theatre and 10% of the dog walk proceeds will go to the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation.

The cocktail party on May 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. takes place at a private estate where guests can enjoy short boat excursions to view Steinbeck’s home from the water. The Travels with Charley Dog Walk, on May 4 at 11 a.m., commemorates when Steinbeck, in 1960, set off from his home in Sag Harbor with his French poodle, Charley, to drive cross country. Steinbeck and Charley traveled alone, stayed at campgrounds and talked to the locals along the way. Steinbeck’s account of his journey, Travels with Charley, became a best-seller.

Steinbeck is best known from the American literary classics The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, The Pearl and Of Mice and Men, and his influence reaches from coast to coast.

This local festival, from May 1 to May 4, is in conjunction with the California-based National Steinbeck Center’s own annual celebration.

The all-inclusive festival VIP pass for the weekend is $150. Participation in the Dog Walk only is $35. A film-only pass is available for $30 and individual films are $10 each. Call 631-725-9500 for passes. For individual films, tickets will be available at the door.

Dan’s Papers Literary Prize Contest is among the sponsors of the festival weekend.

Film schedule

Thursday, May 1, 8 p.m. –Tortilla Flat with Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr
Friday, May 2, 8 p.m. – Cannery Row with Nick Nolte and Debra Winger
Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. – The Red Pony with Myrna Loy and Robert Mitchum
Saturday, May 3, 11:45 a.m. – The Moon Is Down with Cedrick Hardwicke and Henry Travers
Saturday, May 3, 2 p.m. –  Lifeboat with Tallulah Bankhead and William Bendix
Saturday, May 3, 3:45 p.m. –  Of Mice and Men (1992) with John Malkovich and Gary Sinise
Saturday, May 3, 5:50 p.m. –  East of Eden with James Dean and Julie Harris
Saturday, May 3, 8 p.m. – The Grapes of Wrath with Henry Fonda and John Carradine