Fall Arts Preview 2016: Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor

Bay Street Theater continues its fabulous run of shows into the autumn season with a little something for everyone, from literature lovers to cinephiles. Fresh from the success of My Fair Lady and The Last Night of Ballyhoo, the spotlight shows no sign of dimming. Check out what they’ve got on the roster this season.

From October 6 to October 9, Bay Street will play host to some of the screenings of the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) themes this year include “Films of Conflict & Resolution,” “Compassion, Justice & Animal Rights,” and “Air, Land & Sea.” Visit hamptonsfilmfest.org for screenings and alternative venue information.

On October 14 and December 23, Joseph Vecsey (of The Unmovers television series) plays host to the All Star Comedy Show. A lineup of New York’s hottest comedians takes the stage for a night of endless laughs. See comedians Ken Krantz, Gary Vider and Billy Prinsell perform.

On October 15 at 8 p.m. Alfredo Merat brings to life the music and life of legendary Belgian singer/songwriter Jacques Brel, performed in French with English narration.  Enjoy stories of Brel’s life as told by Merat, mixed in with latin and blues music.

On October 29 at 8 p.m. take a trip back to the sixties. The Sixties Show brings the crowd-pleasing favorites to the stage. The band is a patchwork of music legends, comprised of former band members to Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, James Brown, and Ray and Dave Davies. Band members include Craig O’Keefe, Tom Licameli, Jim Boggia, Chris Parker, Dennis Diken, Peter Chiusano, Rich Pagano and John Cardone.

The theatrics haven’t been forgotten, however. Throughout the month of November, Literature Live presents Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The program is designed to be enjoyed by students in middle and high school, and is supported with teacher-developed curricula. After each weekday performance there will be a Q&A with the cast, at which point students can delve deeper into understanding the story and the characters. By bringing literature to life in front of them, Literature Live hopes that students will develop a deeper understanding of the stories, and gain some insight into the importance of studying books. The performances will continue on weekends, at which time families and other groups are invited to attend.

For younger kids, Goat on a Boat Puppet Theatre returns on November 26 at 11 a.m. with The Legend of the Banana Kid. The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers perform the tale of Little Chucky as he heads out west for a cowboy adventure. The show features 20 hand-crafted puppets and is written for ages 4 and up.

The 9th annual Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival (ht2ff) will take place December 1 through December 4 under executive director Jacqui Lofaro of Bridgehampton. Each day is packed full, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with heartfelt documentaries and inspiring Q&A sessions with filmmakers. Friday, December 2 will feature a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the PBS/Channel 13 American Masters series, the award-winning film Maya Angelou—And Still I Rise, along with present and former American Masters series heads Michael Kantor and Susan Lucy. On December 3, there will be a gala reception and awards ceremony to honor Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, followed by a screening of one of his documentaries, still to be announced. Check out ht2ff.com for more.

Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Center for the Arts, 1 Bay Street, Sag Harbor. baystreet.org