Alec Baldwin in 'All My Sons' Leads off Guild Hall 2015 Season
East Hampton’s beloved Guild Hall is going to have a banner summer season this year, with an extensive and robust lineup of programming. From a production of one of American theater’s greatest classics, starring local favorites, to a raucous one-man show interpretation of Hollywood’s most epic sci-fi saga, there’s something for everyone on Main Street this summer.
Guild Hall’s tentpole production this summer is Arthur Miller’s family drama All My Sons, directed by Stephen Hamilton and starring East Hampton’s own Alec Baldwin as Joe Keller, a family man with a dark secret that could shatter his loving family and community. Laurie Metcalf plays his wife, Kate, an emotionally damaged woman who can’t move on from the death of Larry, one of her sons. All My Sons is one of Miller’s greatest works, with a powerful and suspenseful story and a powerhouse character in Joe. Baldwin is no stranger to the stage, having been nominated for a Tony Award as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire. He last appeared on Broadway in 2013’s Orphans. Metcalf, known best for playing Jackie on Roseanne, is a theater, film and television veteran and was nominated for a Tony in 2013’s The Other Place. All My Sons will have previews from June 9–12 and have its opening night on June 13. The show runs through June 28 and plays Tuesdays through Sundays.
The annual Guild Hall Season Spectacular benefit is on July 3, kicking off the holiday weekend with a performance by The Beach Boys. The iconic group is known for hits like “Surfin,’” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann” and more, has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has performed more concerts than any other major rock band in history. This benefit always sells out, so make sure to get your tickets early. Tickets for the performance are on sale, as are benefactor tickets, which include dinner after the show at a private residence.
On July 5, Broadway musical director Ted Sperling performs an evening of music by the great Stephen Sondheim.
The summer fun continues on July 10 with NYC indie rock band Reserved For Rondee. Lead singer Trevor Vaughn, guitarists Billy Magnussen (who appeared as Rapunzel’s prince in Disney’s Into the Woods) and Nick Fokas, bassist Tom Degnan and drummer Warren Hemenway released their debut album Back in Velvet after a successful Kickstarter campaign. This young, exciting band is sure to rock East Hampton, so get your tickets soon (VIP tickets available).
On July 11, Baldwin returns to Guild Hall to host the Hamptons International Film Festival SummerDocs series. The series continues on August 1 and August 28.
Another series starts on July 12, when curator Pamela Fiori begins the Summer Fashion Series On and Off the Runway, interviewing Carmen Marc Valvo. The series continues on July 19 and 25 with Lisa Perry and Iris Apfel, respectively.
Also on July 12, former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins takes the stage to read his acclaimed work. Two young stars take on classic jazz standards on July 14, as cabaret crooner Cole Rumbaugh and Molly Ryan perform Swingin’ in the Hamptons. The brilliant comedienne Sue Costello brings her show I Wasn’t Trying to be Funny… to the Guild Hall stage on July 17. Jarrod Spector, nominated for a Tony as Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, brings his one-man show “A Little Help From My Friends” to the Hamptons on July 19. Spector, who did 1,500 performances as Frankie Valli in Broadway’s smash Jersey Boys, will sing songs like “When You Wish Upon A Star,” “Uptown Girl” and more.
Following a sold-out performance last year, Latino dance organization Ballet Hispanico performs on July 25. Also returning after a sold-out show last year is bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris, who will laugh up the John Drew Theater on July 27. Guild Hall’s popular culinary Stirring the Pot series returns on August 2, when Florence Fabricant will interview superstar chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Also on August 2 is a staged reading of STEINBRENNER! by Ira Berkow and Bill Madden. Based on the book by Bill Madden, this new drama will star Hamptons fave Richard Kind as the titular former New York Yankees owner.
On Saturday, August 8, the original Star Wars trilogy becomes a 75-minute work of performance art with the One-Man Star Wars Trilogy. Charles Ross (with permission from Lucasfilm!) performs the entire saga, playing all the characters, doing all the effects, singing the music, fights all the battles and uses the Force. This hilarious show is a great way to get ready for the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens film, which will be released in the winter.
The Doo-Wop Project performs on August 10, featuring performances by cast members of Jersey Boys and Motown the Musical. The iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mavis Staples performs on August 15. Fans of Staples’ extensive body of work won’t want to miss this exciting show. Bill Boggs takes the stage on August 27 with Memories of Sinatra, featuring highlights of his interview with the music legend. And on September 2, Dick Cavett and Richard Zoglin will host Bob Hope: One Night with the Entertainer of the Century.
Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street, East Hampton. For more information on Guild Hall and for tickets, call 631-324-0806 or go to guildhall.com.