Bay Street Theater Hosts 33rd Annual Summer Gala - 27 East
logo logo logo logo

Sag Harbor Express

Arts & Living / East Hampton Press / News / Neighborhood / News / Southampton Press / Neighborhood / News / Sag Harbor Express / 2379640

Bay Street Theater Hosts 33rd Annual Summer Gala

icon 12 Photos
Jill Rapaport, Alexa Ray Joel, Christie Brinkley, Tracy Mitchell and Scott Schwartz at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Jill Rapaport, Alexa Ray Joel, Christie Brinkley, Tracy Mitchell and Scott Schwartz at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Will Pomerantz, Executive Director Tracy Mitchell and Board of Trustees Co-Chair Steven Todrys at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Rich Lamiroult

Will Pomerantz, Executive Director Tracy Mitchell and Board of Trustees Co-Chair Steven Todrys at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Rich Lamiroult

Honorees Donna Karan and Christy Brinkley at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Rich Lamiroult

Honorees Donna Karan and Christy Brinkley at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Rich Lamiroult

Keith Green, Anne Ciardullo, Bernadette Olsen and Michael Olsen at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Lenny Stucker

Keith Green, Anne Ciardullo, Bernadette Olsen and Michael Olsen at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Lenny Stucker

Bill Campbell, Christine Campbell, Bonnie Comely and Stewart Lane at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Rich Lamiroult

Bill Campbell, Christine Campbell, Bonnie Comely and Stewart Lane at the Bay Street Theater's 33rd annual summer gala on Saturday evening. Rich Lamiroult

Doris Gillman and Beverly Altman at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Doris Gillman and Beverly Altman at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Elise Leve, Nina Lesavoy and Loretta Kuffman at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Elise Leve, Nina Lesavoy and Loretta Kuffman at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Jane Sherman, Debi Zum and guests at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Jane Sherman, Debi Zum and guests at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Mala and Jeff Sander at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Mala and Jeff Sander at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Myra Hackel and her sister at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Myra Hackel and her sister at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Rakesh Nigam and Allison Silver at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Rakesh Nigam and Allison Silver at the Bay Street Gala. LENNY STUCKER

Max Greenfield, Mala Sander, Donna Karan and Christie Brinkley at the Bay Street Gala. JASON WEINBERG

Max Greenfield, Mala Sander, Donna Karan and Christie Brinkley at the Bay Street Gala. JASON WEINBERG

authorStaff Writer on Jul 29, 2025

On Saturday, July 12, Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor welcomed more than 300 guests to its 33rd annual Summer Gala: Icons of Impact, an evening celebrating three remarkable women: supermodel and arts advocate Christie Brinkley, fashion innovator and wellness leader Donna Karan and East End philanthropist Mala Sander.

The evening began with dinner at Le Bilboquet, followed by a lively and heartfelt program at Bay Street Theater. Actor and comedian Richard Kind served as emcee, bringing warmth and sharp wit as he guided the evening’s tributes and performances.

Custom-written musical numbers honored each of the Icons of Impact with humor and heart. Karan reflected on her lifelong commitment to creativity and healing, while Sander expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support the arts in her own community.

The live auction featured a impressive lineup of experiences, including a private Parisian getaway, seats to “Hamilton” with a backstage meet-and-greet with Leslie Odom Jr., and a private yacht cruise on Gardiners Bay. The auction was conducted by professional auctioneer Letitia Frye, with Kind joining in for comedic commentary

Among the many in attendance were Alexa Ray Joel, Jill Rappaport and Max Greenfield.

All proceeds from the event support Bay Street Theater’s educational and accessibility initiatives, including Pay What You Can Nights, Free Student Sundays, and the Literature Live! program, which brings free, professional theater to over 3,000 students annually.

You May Also Like:

Pickleball Lingo Decoded

Many pickleball players ask me: Where did the name “pickleball” for the game we love ... 16 Sep 2025 by Vinny Mangano

Thiele Appointed to OLA Board

The Board of Directors of Organización Latino Americana (OLA) of Eastern Long Island appointed former ... by Staff Writer

An Awful Noise

People who don’t know, ask: What is that awful noise? And then it stops. A different tree now gradually comes alive; the leaves nearly vibrate as the buzzing builds. The sound of an individual cicada is, of course, not an awful noise — it’s just loud, and the pitch is not designed to attract the human ear. The loud things we generally live with are human sounds: parties, lawnmowers, farm equipment. Yesterday, while harvesting tomatoes in the middle of a 50-acre field, I could hear, in the distance, the distinctive crunch of a house being demolished. But, other times, what ... by Marilee Foster

Diversity and Inclusion Committee To Combine With Shared Decision Making Committee at Pierson

At the first Sag Harbor Board of Education meeting since the start of the new school year, board members shared some of the work they’ve been doing to try and organize and make better use of the various committees that exist to focus on a wide range of needs and initiatives. School Board President Sandi Kruel and Vice President Jordana Sobey, along with Veronika Rodriguez-Moya, the district’s director of pupil personnel services and English as a New Language coordinator, recommended putting the district’s diversity and inclusion committee together with the shared decision-making committee. It was a recommendation that was well ... by Cailin Riley

Finding Balance — A Lifelong Journey to Wellness

When I was invited to write a monthly wellness column for this paper, “thrilled” doesn’t ... by Jessie Kenny

Team Whalers Makes History With 20th Championship at Sag Harbor HarborFest

Perfect weather and large crowds combined to make Sag Harbor’s annual HarborFest a huge success ... by Stephen J. Kotz

From Fatherhood to Finances, Bridgehampton Brotherhood BBQ Supports Local Men

During the many years she’s served as executive director of the Bridgehampton Child Care & ... by Cailin Riley

Doris Ola Mae Riddick Madison of Water Mill Dies August 31

Doris Ola Mae Riddick Madison of Water Mill died on August 31. She was 87. ... by Staff Writer

Saving the Waterfront

A little over 50 years ago, the Suffolk County Farmland Preservation Program was launched, based on a first-in-the nation concept of sale of “development rights.” Then-Suffolk County Executive John V.N. Klein was pivotal, in 1974, to the inception of that program. This month, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously passed the Conservation of Working Waterfronts bill, with the current county executive, Ed Romaine, playing a critical role, too. It also involves future development. For centuries, farming and fishing have been at the economic foundation of Suffolk County. Great strides have been made in preserving farming in Suffolk — and keeping Suffolk ... by Karl Grossman

Captain Courageous

Because of a bevy of other headlines, somewhat overlooked earlier this month was the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The signing ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, was a formality, because the war essentially ended two weeks earlier, when Emperor Hirohito told his people that Japan was giving up. That allowed the Allies to begin liberating the POW camps containing thousands of inmates. A particularly brutal one was Omori, on the outskirts of Tokyo. The following is an excerpt from toward the end of “Running Deep,” which will be published next month. On ... by Tom Clavin