New, Permanent Home For Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theater

SAG HARBOR, NY — The Bay Street Theater will soon see a new chapter unfold: The theater announced Friday that plans are in place for its first "purpose-built home."

The facility will feature multiple theaters and spaces for the development of new work, dedicated education facilities, and outdoor performance and public space, a release said.

The theater’s new home will be built on a newly acquired site at the entrance to Sag Harbor that runs continuously with John Steinbeck Waterfront Park, "transforming what is currently a commercial space into a community resource," the release said.

According to Douglas Elliman, Bay Street Theater was the buyer of The Water Street Shops in Sag Harbor. Enzo Morabito and Adam Rothman of Douglas Elliman represented the property; the property closed "very close" to the last ask; the property was listed for $13.9 million.

The .67-acre mixed-use property overlooks Sag Harbor Cove and is located at 22 Long Island Avenue / 22 West Water Street. Currently, the property comprises a circa-1950, 15,000-plus-square-foot commercial building with eight retail units, four office suites and a total of 30 parking spaces. The parcel is currently home to the 7-Eleven, Sing City and Water Street Wine & Spirits, the Douglas Elliman listing said.

The sale signifies the dawning of a new day for the iconic theater.

"Now entering its 30th year, the non-profit professional theater is one of Long Island’s preeminent performing arts organizations and features a long history of developing and premiering acclaimed works that have moved to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters across the country," the release about the Bay Street Theater's new home said.

The Bay Street Theater has also served as an educational and cultural "catalyst" for the East End, growing its arts education programs to serve thousands of students each year and partnering with more than 30 local non-profits annually, representatives said.

Friends of Bay Street & Sag Harbor Redevelopment, a separate non-profit organization, has been created to oversee the site’s development, including land acquisition, financing, fundraising, and design. Friends of Bay Street will work in tandem with the non-profit theater and its board of trustees on the creation of the multi-theater complex, the release said.

Bay Street Theater representatives said by building its own space, the theater is responding to the increasing demand for the cultural, educational, and economic resources it provides to people who live in and visit the region, and expanding its home for a community of local and visiting artists.

Friends of Bay Street’s leadership is currently working with the owners of the small businesses currently located on the parcel to help them relocate to new sites within the town, the release said.

“The creation of a permanent home for Bay Street has long been a goal for all of us at the organization, and I’m thrilled that, along with the Friends of Bay Street, we are able to build upon the work of our visionary founders Sybil Christopher, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Stephen Hamilton, to make that dream a reality,” said Tracy Mitchell, executive director of Bay Street Theater. “I’m incredibly grateful to Bay Street Theater’s chairman, Steven Todrys, and the entire board of trustees for their support and leadership at this incredible juncture as we enhance the artistic contributions we make to the field and the home we provide to our wonderful community.”

“Sag Harbor has long been an artistically vibrant and diverse community, and a home to actors, playwrights, and artists who we look forward to welcoming to our new purpose-built space,” said Scott Schwartz, artistic director of Bay Street Theater.

The past decade has been a time of "momentous" growth for the theater, as it has welcomed award-winning performers, directors, and designers to its stage and mounted productions of new works by writers including Alena Smith, Jonathan Tolins, Jules Feiffer and Andrew Lippa; and modern plays and musicals such as Lynn Nottage’s 'Intimate Apparel'; 'Grey Gardens', set in the Hamptons; and Michael Arden’s 'My Fair Lady,'' Schwartz said.

"Our new home will greatly increase our ability to continue to present a world-class experience for our artists, audiences and students while providing a new community gathering place for generations to come," he added.

Friends of Bay Street plans to break ground in mid-2021 with completion currently anticipated for 2023. The architect for the new building will be announced in the coming months along with greater details about its facilities and special features.

The center will include multiple theaters, including a mainstage theater that will retain the warmth and intimacy of the original venue, while offering additional fixed and flexible spaces to accommodate different configurations keyed to artistic vision and production needs.

The facility will also feature dedicated space for the organization’s year-round educational programs for children and adults, a center for new work development, a shop and scenery storage, special events, and professional development initiatives. That flexibility will permit Bay Street Theater to engage in more original works, co-productions and partnerships, the release said.