Bay Street Theater & the Sag Harbor Center For The Arts is a year-round, not for profit professional theater and community cultural center which endeavors to innovate, educate, and entertain a diverse community through the practice of the performing arts. Programs include Mainstage Performances, The Comedy Club, Workshops, Special Events, and Educational Outreach. Executive Director Tracy Mitchell, created Literature Live! launching the Free Ticket Initiative and has expanded reach into nearly every aspect of the local and island-wide community. Director of Education and Community Outreach Allen O’Reilly, has worked across the country as an educator and actor for thirty years.

TRACY MITCHELL

Bay Street Theater is a professional regional theater located on the eastern end of Long Island in Sag Harbor, NY. We were founded 27 years ago by Emma Walton Hamilton and her husband Steve Hamilton and artistic director Sybil Christopher. Many of your viewers might know that Emma is the daughter of Julie Andrews, who was originally on our board at the time. And Sybil Christopher was the original Mrs. Richard Burton, so we were at the heart of American Theater, glamor and real American theater royalty and we've continued that with the hiring of our new artistic director Scott Shorts, who is an amazing director, artistic director, dramaturg…

The fact is that much of what we do on our main stage. We will do three or four fully produced pieces and each year we always do at least one new work. The writers, stars, actors, designers, the William Ivey Longs in the world of costume, they weren't always the name. They had to start somewhere. So our role, we feel it's part of our mission, is to bring along the new voices as well as taking some of the older works and recreating them in a new way for a new audience.

This interview was conducted by Mia Funk with the participation of collaborating universities and students. Associate Interviews Producer on this podcast was Edward Checketts. “Winter Time” was composed by Nikolas Anadolis and performed by the Athenian Trio.

Mia Funk is an artist, interviewer and founder of The Creative Process.