Southampton Cultural Center Marks 30 Years With Anniversary Gala

The curtain closes on yet another performance at the Southampton Cultural Center and the audience applauds—some even rise to their feet.

No one applauds louder than Kirsten Lonnie, the executive director.

Often, her husband will work the ticket booth with her. “He loves to chat up people, which makes it even more enjoyable,” she said.

The Rising Stars Piano Series Concert on the last Friday in April featured Mohammed Shams, an Egyptian pianist who critics have called “deeply impressive,” “exceptional” and “world-class.” He did not disappoint. Shams’s performance was part of a series founded by Southampton Cultural Center board member and pianist Liliane Questel. Featuring mostly alumni of Pianofest of the Hamptons, many of these “rising” stars come back to the cultural center as celebrated performers.

On another night at the Southampton Cultural Center, the joint is, literally, jumping.

Acclaimed choreographer Jody Oberfelder has staged “The Brain Piece,” “a union of movement, film, neuroscience and sound.” Earlier that afternoon, students as young as 9 years old took part in a dance workshop led by Ms. Oberfelder.

“The number of students through our doors is about 120 a week,” Ms. Lonnie said. Educational and enrichment opportunities at the cultural center run the gamut from dance and music workshops to art classes and Songs & Stories—a combination of literature and visual art—and much more.

A contrast in calm is the Levitas Center for the Arts gallery, home to the Southampton Artists Association, which holds four annual member exhibits in this, the association’s main venue. Workshops, classes and an annual outdoor show in Agawam Park take place year-round.

A bequest by the late Willard Levitas and wife Aura provided for an expansion and renovation that in 2006 opened up a new performance space at the center that is being put to good use.

And to think that all this takes place in a building that was a dilapidated former bowling alley.

“Then-Village Mayor William J. Hattrick was approached by Lois Ehrenkranz with the idea to turn the decrepit bowling alley into a cultural center,” Ms. Lonnie said. “Bill reached out to my then-husband, Detlev Baurs-Krey, who raised seed money for this endeavor from friends and members of the community. We all put up $2,500 as founding members.” Ms. Lonnie was involved since 1985, joined the board in 1987 and became executive director in April 2004.

The idea was to provide the East End community with classes, art exhibitions and live performances for children and adults at affordable prices.

Today the cultural center is probably best known for its successful Concerts in the Park Series, a smashing success since its inception in 1986. Crowds enjoy live music in beautiful Agawam Park and, more recently, on Coopers Beach, with this year’s kick-off in the park on July 5 starring local favorite Nancy Atlas. The series runs through Labor Day.

Center Stage, a community theater company under the direction of Michael Disher, concluded its 2015-16 season in March with “South Pacific: In Concert” and will return to the cultural center in the fall for a new season of four or so plays and musicals.

Southampton Cultural Center—the brainchild of a few forward-thinking villagers—is now celebrating three decades of growth with a gala on Saturday, May 29, at the Southampton Social Club. And they’re inviting a few of their friends: the whole town.

It’s a party, to be sure. The gala will be hosted by Broadway and television star Kevin Spirtas and will honor William J. Hattrick for his vision in turning a rundown establishment into a dynamic, thriving hub of creativity. It will also honor fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo for his contributions, along with artist Giancarlo Impiglia and philanthropist Aura Levitas. There will be live entertainment, and great food and drinks, and a very robust silent and live auction.

“The gala is definitely a reason to celebrate,” said Thomas Knight, the president of the board of directors. “The depth and breadth of the programming we have amassed over 30 years is staggering.”

He is quick to give Ms. Lonnie much credit for its growth. “She has a great eye and ear for programming and she is basically a one-woman show here,” he said.

“We have about 100 performances a year,” Ms. Lonnie said. This is in addition to classes, workshops and charitable partnerships, such as Maureen’s Haven, a homeless outreach program based in Riverhead.

The Southampton Cultural Center is itself a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and that explains another reason for the gala: fundraising.

“We are in a board-building phase and fundraising goes along with that,” Mr. Knight said. “We are very encouraged by the growth so far. We have some new members who can help steer development.”

But a community-driven place will always depend on its community to survive. Southampton Cultural Center is all about the audience experience and constantly seeks to improve this—with new technology, new programming and improvement of existing assets.

“The whole organization, from board member, to teacher, student, performer, volunteer and audience ... has a rich community feel to it,” Ms. Lonnie said.

“Emerging leaders—under 35—are greatly welcomed at a reduced rate. They’re the future. Our audiences are aging and we need young people to get what we’re all about,” Mr. Knight continued.

“Audience building is one of our biggest challenges. This is especially important during the ‘shoulder’ seasons when our programming helps to support the local economy,” Ms. Lonnie said. “And we are always looking to enrich and diversify our board and programming.”

So whether raising a glass to the past or toasting to the future, this inaugural gala will be an opportunity to discover this cultural gem, which serves the community year-round.

“There’s always something going on here, we like to say,” Ms. Lonnie said. “The gala is a great way to get to know us.”

Tickets to the Southampton Cultural Center 30th anniversary gala, “An Evening of Wine & Roses,” are $125 for those under 35, $225 for general admission, and $275 for a VIP experience, which includes a pre-party reception with the honorees. Tickets are available at scc-arts.org.