My Hamptons: Scott Schwartz – Bay Street Theater Artistic Director, Scuba Diver
Scott Schwartz is a leading voice of the next generation of American theater. He joined Bay Street as its artistic director in 2013. An internationally acclaimed artist, Scott’s work has been seen on and off Broadway and around the world.
Behind the Hedges: How long have you been coming to the Hamptons?
Scott Schwartz: I’ve been coming to the Hamptons since I was a kid. My parents had a timeshare at Gurney’s Resort in Montauk and we would come for a week in the winter every year. So my first exposure to the Hamptons was in the off-season, and I loved it. We would always make a special trip to Sag Harbor one day while we were visiting, so now that I have a home in Sag Harbor and at Bay Street, I feel like it’s always been meant to be. I like the Hamptons because this place is pulsing with creativity, with vibrant and fascinating people always keeping the mind and spirit stimulated, but it is also a place that is so peaceful, a space where you can truly breathe.
BTH: What is the greatest part about your job?
SS: There are so many things I love, but I think the best part is introducing cutting-edge artists to the Hamptons and watching them invariably fall in love with the area, and connecting our community to these visionary artists working in the theater today.
BTH: Is there any dream production you’d like to bring to Bay Street?
SS: There are many productions I dream about bringing to Bay Street. I’m currently in the midst of planning our 2018 season, so I’m thinking about this question a lot right now. It has long been a dream of mine to bring a production of a Shakespeare play here, and we’re doing it this summer! Tony Award winner John Doyle is directing As You Like It. His production is set in the Jazz Age and is going to be full of music, with the actors singing and playing instruments. In August, one dream of mine is coming true.
BTH: If you could snap your fingers and instantly have a different career, what would be your dream job?
SS: A marine biologist. I love the ocean and am an avid scuba diver. I jump at any chance to be under water, though I haven’t gotten to shark dive off Montauk yet! Summers are too busy for that.
BTH: Describe your perfect day on the East End.
SS: Waking up and spending the morning at home with my wife and our baby daughter, watching the birds on the cove and small rabbits hopping across our yard. Then taking a drive to one of the ocean beaches for an hour or two, enjoying the water and maybe stopping off at the Clam Bar for lunch. In the afternoon, a bit of window shopping in East Hampton and Sag Harbor, followed by dinner at one of the great restaurants like Beacon or Dockside. And finally, of course, a fantastic show at Bay Street at night!
Vetted Hamptons Resources
