Guild Hall’s summer season has arrived; in the coming month, a distinctive lineup of programs will be offered for the first full season after a two-year capital improvements project to enhance the offerings at the interdisciplinary institution. Featuring art exhibitions, world-class dance companies, Broadway luminaries, live music, kids performances, comedy, talks and the return of the Hamptons Institute, the summer will offer something for everyone.
“With the strongest opening week of ticket sales in our history, Guild Hall’s 95th season is already poised for success,” said Guild Hall’s executive director, Andrea Grover. “Our programming team has curated a dynamic lineup that promises to delight and invigorate audiences in all the best ways.”
The summer programming is designed to help visitors deepen their connection to creativity through artist-centric, participatory experiences. Despite Guild Hall’s expanded public space, the institution remains dedicated to preserving the community spirit that has enlivened its halls for nearly a century, intentionally installing fewer theater seats to maintain an intimate atmosphere. This season’s exhibitions and programming emphasize bringing audiences closer to the source: the talented creatives themselves, their processes, and the ideas that shape their work.
The exhibition season kicked off early on May 4 with the opening of “Functional Relationships: Artist-Made Furniture” and “Almond Zigmund: Wading Room,” two shows that remain on view through July 13, and focus on East End artists who produce functional furniture as an extension of their creative practices.
With an exhibition preview at Guild Hall’s annual Summer Gala in early August , “Mary Heilmann: Water Way,” will be the artist’s first large-scale solo presentation with an institution on the East End, where she has been an integral part of the region’s creative community for decades. Also previewing at the gala, “Joel Mesler: Miles of Smiles” sheds light on universal themes by filtering them through autobiography, humor, self-deprecation and surprising compositional juxtapositions. Mesler will create a space that functions as a gathering place where the artist will host “office hours.” In the lobby gallery, “Smile Shop” will offer merchandise designed by Mesler, including items such as charm necklaces, wallpaper, plushies and robes. Both exhibitions will be on view August 3 through October 26.
An unprecedented lineup of dance begins with “An Evening of Music & Dance” with Tiler Peck, New York City Ballet principal dancer. The season continues with Gibney Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the return of “New York City Ballet: On & Off Stage,” “Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: “Story/Time,” and the culmination of Music From the Sole’s multi-year Guild Hall William P. Rayner Artist-in-Residence with the premiere of their new work, “House Is Open, Going Dark.”
Broadway takes center stage with performances by composer Jason Robert Brown, hosted by Frank DiLella; Seth Rudetsky and Ana Gasteyer; John Cameron Mitchell, Whitney White; Adam Pascal with producer Jeffrey Seller; and Isaac Mizrahi performing his beloved cabaret. Also featured is “The Fitzgeralds,” a reading with music starring Alec Baldwin and Melissa Errico, directed by Stephen Hamilton with an original live score by Forrest Gray. G.E. Smith returns with his “Portraits” series featuring late night bandleaders Louis Cato, Paul Shaffer and Jimmy Vivino. Other live music offerings include Wynton Marsalis and “Jazz at Lincoln Center,” an evening of jazz guitar with Julian Lage and Jorge Roeder, and musicians from the New York Philharmonic.
New York Times food and wine writer Florence Fabricant hosts “Stirring the Pot” for the 15th year, welcoming culinary stars Andrew Carmellini, Marc Murphy, Christina Tosi and restaurant critic Pete Wells. Thought-provoking conversations will feature Alexandra Fairweather on John Chamberlain, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “StarTalk Live!,” “Academy Icons” with Daryl Roth and Anna Deavere Smith and more.
The Hamptons Institute, established in 2010, returns this summer featuring leaders in their fields discussing ideas that shape the community and world. The 2025 installment is guest-curated by Ellen Chesler, author and Hamptons Institute co-founder, and Patricia Duff, founder of the nonpartisan nonprofit, The Common Good, dedicated to civic participation, dialogue and finding solutions and common ground. Each evening will explore a single topic from the perspective of multiple professionals, followed by a Q&A.
Humor will arrive with comedian ALOK, Candace Bushnell, “Celebrity Autobiography” and Julio Torres. The little ones will revel in seven fun-filled Wednesdays of KidFEST programs: Mario the Maker Magician, Parallel Exit, Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Little Mermen, 1 2 3 Andrés, Music From the Sole with “Our Fabulous Variety Show,” and the big finish with “Puppy Pals Live.”
HamptonsFilm returns with SummerDocs. The Artist Profile Archive will show a preview screening of “Picture of Pictures: The Metro Years.” Special community offerings include the popular monthly Art Social in the classroom, Silent Disco Dance Parties in the garden and Guild Hall Teen Arts Council’s annual fashion show.
The longstanding tradition of the Clothesline Art Sale continues on July 19, providing accessible artwork to the community, while supporting the local artists who thrive here. The Summer Gala returns to Guild Hall’s grounds on August 1, honoring philanthropists Louise and Howard Phanstiel, and finally, patrons will tee off at The Maidstone at the George D. Yates Golf Outing on September 29.
For the 2025 season, Guild Hall has made a commitment to reducing barriers to participation by offering a block of $25 tickets for all Guild Hall-presented programs. To purchase tickets and to review the full schedule of events, visit guildhall.org. Guild Hall is at 158 Main Street in East Hampton.
Guild Hall’s 2025 Season
Exhibitions
May 4 to July 13: “Functional Relationships: Artist-Made Furniture”; “Almond Zigmund: Wading Room”
August 3 to October 26: “Mary Heilmann: Water Way”; “Joel Mesler: Miles of Smiles”
Dance:
June 14: Tiler Peck: “An Evening of Music and Dance”
July 11: Gibney Company
July 25: Dance Theatre of Harlem
August 8: “New York City Ballet: On & Off Stage”
August 15: “Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Company: Story/Time”
August 22: “Music From The Sole: House Is Open, Going Dark”
Broadway, Cabaret and Theater
June 21: “Whitney White: The Case of Stranger”
July 27: “Academy Icons: Jeffrey Seller With Adam Pascal and Seth Rudetsky”
August 10: “An Evening With Isaac Mizrahi”
August 16: “The Fitzgeralds: A Reading With Music” with Alec Baldwin and Melissa Errico
August 28: “Academy Icons: Daryl Roth With Anna Deavere Smith”
Music
June 29: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
July 5: An Evening of Jazz Guitar: Julian Lage with Jorge Roeder
July 12: Musicians from the New York Philharmonic
July 19: G.E. Smith’s “Portraits,” Louis Cato with Paul Shaffer
August 23: G.E. Smith’s “Portraits,” Jimmy Vivino and Friends
Humor
June 28: “Hairy Situation: A Comedy Show” by ALOK, presented with Murmrr
July 18: “Candace Bushnell: True Tales of Sex, Success, and Sex and the City”
July 26: “Celebrity Autobiography”
August 24: “Julio Torres: Color Theories,” presented with Murmrr
Film
July 17: HamptonsFilm SummerDocs: “My Mom Jayne,” a film by Mariska Hargitay”
July 20: The Artist Profile Archive: Preview screening of “Picture of Pictures: The Metro Years”
August 29: HamptonsFilm SummerDocs: “Middletown” a film by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss
Talks
July 13: East Hampton Design Days Lecture Series
July 13: “The Dogist: This Dog Will Change Your Life,” an evening with Elias Weiss Friedman
June 22: “Living With Chamberlain: A Conversation” with Alexandra Fairweather
Staff Writer on Jun 12, 2025