ANNUAL SUMMER GALA BENEFIT BASH

1960's Musical Evening At The Bay Street Theatre Annual Summer Gala Benefit Bash

Theatre buffs, Sag Harbornites, actors and celebrities all enjoyed a musical summer evening under the stars Sailing Back To The 60's at The Bay Street Theatre annual Summer Gala Benefit Bash. The glamorous event was held this past Saturday, July 18th on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.

The event took guests back on a magical mystery tour of the '60's with special guest Lesley Gore. Ms. Gore is well known for her 1963 smash pop hit, "It's My Party", which she recorded at the age of 16. Following the hit, she became one of the most recognized teen pop singers of 1963-1967.

The Bay Street Theatre is a not-for-profit 299-seat professional regional theatre situated on Long Wharf in the quaint historical town of Sag Harbor, NY. The theatre was established in 1991 by Sybil Christopher, Stephen Hamilton and Emma Walton.

Bay Street Benefit Bash Publicist Ron Caparella and Actress Tina Louise

For those of you who may not be aware, Sybil Christopher's first husband was Richard Burton. Burton met his future wife, the young actress Sybil Williams, on the set, and they married in February 1949. They had two daughters, but divorced in 1963, after Burton's scandalous affair with movie star legend Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of "Cleopatra."

Operating from March through December, the Bay Street Theatre is dedicated to presenting innovative, classic and contemporary works, which challenge as well as entertain, the diverse community and champion the human spirit. It is the theatre's mission to create an artistic haven, where an extended family of established and emerging artists may flourish in an atmosphere free from commercial pressures. The theatre prides itself on the commitment to exercise fiscal responsibility so that their work might be defined by their endless creative imagination as well as other resources. The theatre believes in providing a nurturing haven for artists and audiences to share a collective theatrical experience that resonates beyond their enormous walls. The Bay Street Theatre's commitment extends to educational programs for all ages to foster the continued value of theatre as a vital art form for future generations.

There are many supporters including Actor and Movie Legend Eli Wallach and his wife Broadway Actress Anne Jackson. Mr. Wallach and his wife Ms.Jackson have performed on numerous occasions at the 299 seat theatre.

Mr. Wallach and I had a chance to chat at the event during the cocktail hour about his love of acting his famous co-stars including, Clint Eastwood in the "Good, The Bad and the Ugly and Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe in "The Misfits." One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" directed by Sergio Leone. During our conversation he mentioned an experience he had on the set of the movie. The director Sergio Leone was extremely careless in ensuring the safety of his actors during dangerous scenes. It was during filming that Wallach accidentally drank from a bottle of acid that a film technician had carelessly placed next to his soda can. He immediately spit it out, but told me he was furious that his vocal cords could have been severely damaged if he had mistakenly swallowed any of it. Director Leone gave him some milk to wash his mouth out with and profusely apologized for the mishap, but innocently remarked "that accidents do happen." He also told me that he use to pal around with Frank Sinatra and dedicated a whole chapter in his book "The Good, The Bad and Me" about Sinatra. Wallach has been married to stage actress Anne Jackson since March 5, 1948. The celebrity couple have three children: Peter, Katherine and Roberta. His daughter Roberta Wallach is following in her parent's footsteps and recently acted as a mentally disturbed teenager in Paul Newman's The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. In honor of his support for the community of Sag Harbor, they will be naming a theatre after him and his wife, Anne Jackson in May of next year.

Many of the productions that premiered or were developed at Bay Street have moved to Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally and abroad, including NOBODY DON'T LIKE YOGI, HEDDA GABLER, LOVE JANIS, IF LOVE WERE ALL, FULL GALLOP, SWINGTIME CANTEEN and THREE HOTELS.

The Theatre is now in its 18th Season and is considered one of the best in the country. Since its inception in 1992, Bay Street Theatre has cultivated into a thriving institution through the dedicated collaborations of others and is vital to the cultural life of the community. The Bay Street theatre is widely recognized for its contribution to the quality of life on the East End of Long Island.

The celebrity guest list included, Actress Tina Louise from Gilligan's Island, Robert Florio Publisher Hamptons.com,TV Host Lauren Ezersky Plum TV, Broadway Producer Wendy Radus Federman, Dame Donna Anne Soloway, Richard L. Soloway Chairman Napco Security Group, Stage Actress Sybil Christopher and Patrick Christiano Publisher of Theaterlife.com.

For more information about the Bay Street Theatre please visit www.baystreet.org.

Cognac Wellerlane

July 22, 2009 1:25 PM Eastern

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