Bay Street to Present Outdoor Reading of 'The Tempest'
Shakespeare enthusiasts will soon be able to see The Tempest and enjoy the beautiful summer weather of the Hamptons at the same time. Bay Street Theater will present staged readings of the Shakespeare play, with Tony Award-winner John Glover, on August 16 and 17.
The free reading on August 16 will take place at Sag Harbor’s Mashashimuet Park and begin at 7 p.m. Viewers are invited to lounge on the grass and bring their own chairs, blankets, and picnics, though bleacher seating will also be available.
The second performance, to take place on August 17, will be held at a waterfront estate on Shelter Island and double as a VIP benefit. The event includes a reception with the cast, as well as cocktails prior to the reading. The benefit will start at 6:30 p.m., with the reading beginning at 7 p.m.
Glover, who will star as Prospero, has received a Tony Award, Obie Award, and Drama Desk nomination for his role in Love! Valour! Compassion! He is currently featured in Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare in the Park in New York City and recently played one of the witches in Macbeth at Lincoln Center.
“We are delighted to launch an initiative which we hope will make Bay Street Theater a center for the Bard’s work on the East End,” a spokesperson for the theater announced last week. “Considered by many to be the greatest playwright of our time, Shakespeare’s plays are as entertaining and relevant today as they have ever been.”
Bay Street Theater’s Shakespeare Initiative is also offering the public a chance to become patrons of the play: supporters have the opportunity to sponsor a character in The Tempest and consult with the actors. Donors will also receive passes to the VIP benefit on August 17 and be photographed with the cast members.
Mashashimuet Park is located at 373 Main Street in Sag Harbor. For more information, visit baystreet.org or call 631-725-9500.