“The Last Night of Ballyhoo” Joins Bay Street Mainstage Season

Sag Harbor’s Bay Street Theater has announced “The Last Night at Ballyhoo” will be the third production in its 2016 Mainstage Summer Season, which begins May 31 and runs through August 28.

The Mainstage season will open with the previously announced world premiere of “The Forgotten Woman, which will run May 31 through June 19. A new play by Jonathan Tolins, and directed by Noah Himmelstein, the production follows Margaret Meier, a gifted soprano on the verge of a major operatic career. And she's terrified. When a handsome reporter shows up at her Chicago hotel room, this anything-but-diva-like diva is forced to grapple with every aspect of her life - her less-than-passionate marriage, her child, her ambition, her weight, and the price she must pay in a most demanding and irrational art form.

The second Mainstage production will be the Tony Award-winning play from the author of “Driving Miss Daisy.” “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” will run June 28 through July 24. Written by Alfred Uhry and directed by Bay Street’s Associate Artistic Director Will Pomerantz, “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” is set in Atlanta in 1939 and is inspired by Mr. Uhry’s childhood memories. “Gone with the Wind” is about to premiere, Hitler has recently conquered Poland, but the wealthy Freitag family is looking forward to Ballyhoo, the lavish German Jewish country club ball. They have great hopes for all it will mean for daughters Lala and Sunny. But when Joe Farkas, a handsome Eastern European bachelor arrives on the scene, everyone must confront their own beliefs, prejudices and desires. The family will never be the same as they take a journey filled with comedy, romance, and surprising revelations.

The Mainstage culminates with “My Fair Lady,” staged August 2 through August 28, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe, and adapted from George Bernard Show's play and Gabriel Pascal's motion picture “Pygmalion,” directed by Michael Arden. Mr. Arden recently directed the critically acclaimed revival of “Spring Awakening” on Broadway. Considered by many to be one of the greatest musicals of all time, “My Fair Lady” tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower seller who takes speech lessons from Henry Higgins, a Professor of Phonetics, in order to pass as a lady. Their relationship, which starts on a bet as student and pupil, becomes much more than either of them could ever have expected. This timeless romance is about transformation, the battle of the sexes, and class. Bay Street's intimate production will feature a two piano arrangement of the beloved score and an up close perspective that will bring out the humanity and complexity of the characters and relationships for a new vision of this classic musical, according to a press release issued by the theater this week.

"I am thrilled to announce the three Mainstage productions of the 25th Anniversary Summer Season at Bay Street," says Artistic Director Scott Schwartz. "In this inspiring and important year, Bay Street will offer a broad range of work that embraces all that theater can be – a world premiere, a bold new interpretation of a beloved classic musical, and a contemporary masterpiece. I am delighted to welcome three visionary directors to our stage: Noah Himmelstein, Will Pomerantz, and Michael Arden. These are exciting artists who will create dazzling, unique productions for our audience. In our 25th year, Bay Street will continue to be the place to experience cutting edge, entertaining live theater that the East End will be talking about all summer long."

For more information or to purchase a 2016 Mainstage Season subscription, visit baystreet.org, or call the Box Office at (631) 725-9500.