DAN'S PAPERS, April 23, 2010 Page 47 www.danshamptons.com
Arts & Entertainment Bay Street Dedicates The Annie & Eli 2nd Stage much as you can,” said Davis. “This space gives us the flexibility to present different kinds of theater. There’s always that balance you need to attain between mainstream and more experimental or developmental works. This concept allows us to reach for that balance.” The Annie & Eli 2nd Stage, named for the
Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson By Susan M. Galardi It’s wonderful when a plan comes together, or when a dream comes to life. Both are happening for Bay Street Theater co-Creative Directors Sybil Christopher and Murphy Davis with the dedication of a 99-seat theater, The Annie & Eli 2nd Stage. Their idea, which came to mind in 1994, was to have a smaller space for the off-season, to produce works in development, new works and plays that are outside the realm of the theater’s more mainstream Mainstage productions in the summer. The 2nd Stage will in effect expand Bay Street’s offerings. “When you’re producing, you want to produce as
Hamptons royalty of theater and long time residents, Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, is not a new space, per se – it’s an adjustment to the main theater. “We’ll transform the 299 theater into a 99 seat venue,” explained Davis. “In reducing it, we’ve changed the feeling of the interior space, focusing on 99 seats in the center.” The venture also compensates for the fact that, “we really don’t’ have a ‘season’ anymore,” according to Davis. “We’re adjusting the size of space for a wider theatre going population – full time residents and year-round weekenders.” The space will house the popular workshops sponsored by the Lucille Lortel Foundation, created to present projects in development. The vision became viable through recent concessions granted by the Actors Equity Association to allow Bay Street Theatre to provide high quality productions at a more economical cost to both the theater and its patrons. “The program will be a combination of workshops and new pieces,” said Davis. “We’ll allow artists to work on a play in the theatre, and do one perform-
ances. The inaugural production, scheduled for October 16, is a musical version of Lanford Wilson’s straight play, Balm in Gilead. “Ideally, we’re shooting for two productions in the fall, two in the spring,” said Davis. But before that, there is a great wave of fanfare. On Lauren Bacall Saturday night, May 1, Bay Street is hosting a special event to dedicate the new theatrical venue to its namesakes: Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. It will be a star-studded evening of performances and tributes to honor the great theatrical couple, starting with a wine reception at 6:30 in the Bay Street lobby. The show begins at 7:30 with tributes and performances by friends and colleagues of Wallach and Jackson. Actors Zoe Caldwell, Brian Murray, and Peter Riegert will perform live in scenes from celebrated works that originally featured Jackson and Wallach, including This Property is Condemned, Major Barbara and Luv. The likes of Lauren Bacall, Patricia Neal, Joe Pintauro, Murray Schisgal and (continued on next page)
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50th Anniversary
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