Inside the Hamptons Gala Honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Celebrating 35 Years of Bay Street Theater

Bay Street Theater’s milestone Summer Gala brought together Broadway stars, artists, supporters and community leaders in Sag Harbor for an evening honoring Miranda with the Julie Andrews Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bay Street Theater celebrated 35 years of bringing theater, music and community together with its annual Summer Gala on Saturday, July 11, honoring award-winning composer, lyricist, actor and filmmaker Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The milestone celebration brought together supporters, artists, community members and special guests for an evening recognizing Bay Street Theater’s lasting impact on the East End arts scene and its continued commitment to year-round performances, education and community programming.

Broadway came to Sag Harbor as Bay Street Theater celebrated its 35th Annual Summer Gala honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda. The evening featured performances, heartfelt tributes, and a gathering of artists, supporters and community leaders celebrating one of the Hamptons’ most beloved cultural institutions.

The evening began with dinner gatherings at Le Bilboquet and Tutto Il Giorno, where guests enjoyed an elegant start to the celebration before continuing on to Bay Street Theater.

At the theater, attendees gathered for a festive cocktail reception featuring music, champagne and light bites, all in support of Bay Street Theater’s artistic and educational initiatives.

Miranda was presented with Bay Street Theater’s Julie Andrews Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his extraordinary contributions to the performing arts and his lasting influence on theater and culture. The award presentation was hosted by Robert Creighton, who is currently starring in Bay Street Theater’s production of Cagney: The Musical.

Miranda’s father, Luis A. Miranda Jr., delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on his son’s life, creative journey and dedication to the arts. His remarks highlighted the importance of family, community and storytelling while creating a memorable moment of connection throughout the theater.

The evening’s entertainment featured performances of songs from Miranda’s acclaimed works, including Moana, Working and Bring It On, along with a show-stopping performance by Kenny Lee, who will star in Bay Street Theater’s upcoming production of Dear Evan Hansen.

Broadway performer Will Roland hosted the evening’s paddle raise and live auction, where guests bid on exclusive experiences while helping support Bay Street Theater’s productions, educational programs, accessibility initiatives and community outreach.

Among those attending were Bay Street Theater co-founders Emma Walton Hamilton and Steve Hamilton, Executive Director Tracy Mitchell, and Artistic Director Scott Schwartz.

Board members in attendance included Chair Lynn Mestel, Jennifer Bartley, David Fink, John Frawley, Keith Green, Myra Hackel, Wendy Harrison Hashmall, Loretta Kaufman, Stewart F. Lane, Riki Kane Larimer, Nina Lesavoy, Elise Leve, Leslie Mayer, Laura McPhail, Alison Newman, Flora Schnall, Eric Segal, Steve Todrys and Christine Wächter-Campbell.

Additional guests included Melissa Manchester, Tovah Feldshuh, Luz Town-Miranda and Huma Abedin.

The 35th Annual Summer Gala reflected the spirit that has sustained Bay Street Theater for more than three decades — a shared commitment among artists, supporters, volunteers, donors and community partners to keep the performing arts thriving on the East End.

Scroll through the gallery photos for highlights from Bay Street Theater’s 35th Annual Summer Gala honoring Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .