DAN’S PAPERS
Page 76 August 16, 2013
danspapers.com
NEWS BRIEFS COMPILED BY KELLY LAFFEY
Bay Street Theatre Announces New Artistic Director
Martin and Audrey Gruss
SOuTHAMPTON: Southampton Hospital hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on August 12, to celebrate the beginning of its Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart and Stroke Center and to honor the Gruss’s extraordinary gift of $5 million to the new facility at the hospital. When completed, the center will provide stroke treatment and carotid stents as needed and will consolidate a broad spectrum of new and sophisticated diagnostic and treatment capabilities with existing cardiovascular programs and services. Audrey Gruss, President of the Audrey & Martin Gruss Foundation, said, “With many of us spending months or weekends year-round in Southampton and the East End, Martin and I felt it was important that our local hospital have the capability to conduct stroke and vascular distress intervention.” Cardiovascular Disease, of which heart disease and stroke are the most common diseases, is the leading cause of death nationally as well as in New York State and Long Island. Given a geographically remote location, compounded by excessive traffic during the summer, heart disease and stroke are a particular concern for the communities served by Southampton Hospital. “Creation of The Audrey and Martin Gruss Heart and Stroke Center will be transformational for us in that it will significantly advance the Hospital’s ability to diagnose and treat stroke and cardiovascular disease,” comments Robert S. Chaloner, President and CEO of Southampton Hospital. “We are grateful for the Gruss’s generosity.”
Courtesy Bay Street Theatre
Tom Kochie
Hospital Breaks Ground on Gruss Heart and Stroke Center
SAG HARBOR: Bay Street Theatre has announced that Scott Schwartz, a leading voice of the next generation of American theater, has joined Bay Street as its new Artistic Director. Schwartz’s tenure at Bay Street will inaugurate a new vision for the theater, beginning with the 2014 season. A graduate of Harvard University and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Schwartz is an internationally acclaimed artist whose work has been seen worldwide, on and off Broadway. Over the past 20 years, he has built a reputation for pursuing and embracing a wide range of works for the stage, from new plays to classics to musicals and opera. Schwartz directed the longest running one-woman show in Broadway history, Golda’s Balcony, William Gibson’s one-woman play about Golda Meir. His directing credits have garnered him numerous Drama Desk Award nominations, including for Outstanding Director of a Musical. Schwartz directed Séance on a Wet Afternoon starring Lauren Flanigan at New York City Opera, as well as its world premiere at Opera Santa Barbara for which he won a Santa Barbara Indy Award as Best Director. Currently, Schwartz is directing the new musical Secondhand Lions with book by Rupert Holmes and music and lyrics by Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary. The production will open at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle on September 26. “We are delighted to welcome Scott Schwartz as our new Artistic Director,” says Tracy Mitchell, Executive Director of Bay Street, and Ana Daniel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “His remarkable talent, experience, and passion for theatre will help lead us to an incredible future of programming and new artistic alliances. We couldn’t be more thrilled.” Producer Gary Hygom concurs. “Scott is an exceptional choice as our new Artistic Director. He is a dynamic, innovative director and ideally suited to lead Bay Street. His fresh perspective will have a galvanizing effect and reinvigorate our tradition of producing great theater that appeals to our diversified audience.” “I am thrilled and deeply honored to be appointed Artistic Director at Bay Street Theatre,” says Schwartz. “I have long admired the work done by this great company, dating back to its earliest days. I still remember how taken I was when I traveled to Sag Harbor to attend Cynthia Ozick’s Blue Light, by the excitement of seeing first-class performers doing their work so close in this intimate and beautiful theater. I look forward to working with Executive Director Tracy Mitchell, Producer Gary Hygom, and the whole Bay Street family as we build on the rich tradition begun by Sybil Christopher 22 years ago of presenting entertaining, innovative and thought-provoking productions for the East End of Long Island. While we’ve been frequent visitors for many years, my wife and I are now delighted to make a new home in Sag Harbor and to begin to be a part of this vibrant region.”
Southampton Town Youth Bureau Seeks School Supply Donations SOuTHAMPTON: Each year as local youths return to the classroom, their parents must buy supplies, which can add up to be quite an expense. The Town of Southampton is doing what it can to ease that burden. The Southampton Youth Bureau is now accepting donations of school supplies for local families in need. They are asking anyone who can to please donate pencils, pens, notebooks, rulers, art supplies, backpacks, paper and any other school supplies. Please give what you can and drop off supplies to the Citizen Response Center in Southampton Town Hall, located at 116 Hampton Road in Southampton. For more information, contact the Youth Bureau at 631-702-2421.
Hampton Lifeguard Association Competes at USLA National Lifeguard Championships MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF.: East Hampton Town Lifeguards travelled cross-country to arrive in Manhattan this past weekend, where they proved their mettle at the annual uSLA National Lifeguard Championships. The competition, which pits teams from the East and West coasts against each other, was held at Manhattan Beach, California. Competing as the Hampton Lifeguard Association, two East End guards took top honors— Paige Duca placed first in the Open Women’s 2K Beach Run; and Lucy Kholhoff took first in the Open Women’s Beach Flags. Many more placed in the competitions offered. Juniors lifeguards competed on August 7, and the National Lifeguard Championships are held from August 8–10. Colder climates ruled, as Long Island was well represented. Teams from Long Beach, Jones Beach and Smith Point were also represented.