Friends of Bay Street, a group formed to build Bay Street Theater a new home in Sag Harbor, have hired Stephen Hamilton as the new Director of External Affairs.
Bay Street announced in October that it would be building on the site of Sag Harbor’s Water Street Shops. The new location will feature multiple theaters and spaces for the development of new work, dedicated education facilities, and outdoor performance and public spaces.
The performing arts organization features a long history of developing and premiering acclaimed works that have moved to Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters across the country.
Hamilton comes to this position with many years as a successful arts administrator. He was one of the original co-founders of Bay Street Theater itself, and its Executive Director for 17 years. Most recently, he served as the Acting Executive Director of the Sag Harbor Cinema.
“I am deeply honored that Adam Potter and Tracy Mitchell of Friends of Bay Street have invited me to join the team,” said Hamilton.
In this new role, he will be working as a liaison between members of Friends of Bay Street, government officials, and patrons, as well as other organizations. In addition to his long-time work in the arts and theater, Hamilton has been fully immersed in the East End community, with a solid reputation in his work from the Cinema to Stony Brook University. Hamilton also served as a director and actor with numerous credits to his name.
“I look forward to working with them as well as Scott Schwartz, Bay Street Board Chair Steve Todrys, and the entire Board of Trustees, who have been so very dedicated for many years to help realize this exciting vision for the theater’s future,” said Hamilton. “From the first days of founding Bay Street nearly 30 years ago, my co-founders, Emma Walton Hamilton and Sybil Christopher, and I knew that owning our facility would be crucial to the long-term sustainability of Bay Street and its mission. Now, we have this opportunity to make that long held dream come true. It is especially meaningful for me to return to Bay Street for this profoundly exciting chapter in Bay Street’s legacy.”
During his time at Bay Street, Hamilton oversaw more than 50 productions, including Jon Robin Baitz’ adaptation of “Hedda Gabler” (starring Tony nominee Kate Burton) and Sandy Wilson’s “The Boy Friend” (Julie Andrews’ directorial debut and National Tour). Other new plays under his tenure included work from Paula Vogel, Lanford Wilson, Cynthia Ozick, Terrence McNally, Marsha Norman, Chris Durang, and Rick Dresser, featuring performances by Cherry Jones, Alan Alda, Diane Weist, Richard Dreyfuss, Mercedes Ruehl, and Twiggy.
“It truly is an honor to get to work with Steve and we are thrilled to have him aboard. It really completes the sort of circle of his and Emma’s original dream to create a permanent home for Bay Street,” said Bay Street’s Executive Director Tracy Mitchell.