THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO
JUNE 28 – JULY 24, 2016
AT BAY STREET THEATER
Bay Street Theater opens its second Mainstage production of the season with "The Last Night of Ballyhoo", the Tony Award-winning play by Alfred Uhry, directed by Will Pomerantz. The production will be presented June 28 – July 24, 2016.
Atlanta, 1939. It’s the premiere of Gone with the Wind, it’s the party of the year, and everything is about to change. The wealthy and important Freitag family is looking forward to Ballyhoo, the lavish German Jewish country club ball, and all it will mean for daughters Lala and Sunny. But life turns upside down when their uncle brings home his new employee, a handsome Eastern European bachelor from Brooklyn. Everyone must confront their own beliefs, prejudices, and desires. The family will never be the same as they take a journey filled with comedy, romance and surprising revelations.
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The cast of "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" at Bay Street Theater. Photo: Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com.
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The cast stars Daniel Abeles as Peachy Weil; Ari Brand as Joe Farkas; Ellen Harvey as Boo Levy; John Hickok as Adolph Freitag; Dori Legg as Reba Freitag; Erin Neufer as Lala Levy; and Amanda Kristin Nichols as Sunny Freitag.
For full bios on the cast, click here.
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Ellen Harvey, Ari Brand, Doru Legg, John Hickok. Photo: Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com.
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“The Last Night of Ballyhoo" is a great romantic comedy by one of our greatest living American writers, and we are delighted to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this Tony Award-winning play’s premiere as part of our 25th Anniversary at Bay Street,” said Bay Street Artistic Director Scott Schwartz. “With his light and comedic touch, playwright Alfred Uhry brings us a story about family and Jewish identity, and explores questions of cultural assimilation and religious purity. These are timely issues for all of us as Americans, be you Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or from any other faith. I am excited to see this amazing cast and brilliant team of artists create the most glamorous party of the year on stage at Bay Street and bring life to Uhry’s complex and refined mothers, daughters, sons and lovers.”
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John Hickok, Dori Legg, Ellen Harvey, Erin Neufer, Daniel Abeles. Photo: Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com.
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The production team includes Alexander Dodge (Set Designer), Mike Billings (Lighting Designer), Lindsay W. Davis (Costume Designer), Jane Shaw (Sound Designer), Andrew Diaz (Props), Meg Murphy (Hair/ Wig Designer), and Kat West (Production Stage Manager). Casting by Stewart/Whitley.
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Amanda Kristen Nichols, Ari Brand. Photo: Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com.
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Will Pomerantz (Director) has directed and developed new plays and musicals with such theatres as The Guthrie, American Repertory Theatre, 2nd Stage, Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theatre, Hartford Stage, New York Theater Workshop, The Signature Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Soho Rep, Culture Project, The Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Studio Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre and The Mark Taper Forum.
He has directed world premieres by such playwrights as John Guare, David Auburn, Neil LaBute, Craig Lucas, Kia Corthron, David Lindsay-Abaire, Stephen Belber, Noah Haidle, Linda Cho and Kira Obolensky. In addition to his work on new plays, Will has also directed texts by Chekhov, Ibsen, Strindberg, Shakespeare, Shaw and Sophocles.
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John Hickok, Erin Neufer, Ellen Harvey. Photo: Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com.
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In addition, Will Pomerantz's production of "The Blue Flower" swept all the major awards in the Boston Area, winning both the Elliot Norton and the Independent Reviewers of New England (I.R.N.E.) Awards. The New York production, produced by 2nd Stage, was listed as one of the 10 Best Productions of the Year by Bloomberg (“The best musical since "Spring Awakening.”) and has been nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical.
His production of "The Shape of Things" was voted Outstanding Production of the year in Washington, DC and received a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Performance, as well as being cited as among the year’s 10 best by The Washington Post and The Washington Times.
His production of "Dai" received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Solo Performance and was won a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. He received an OOBR Award for Outstanding Production (for A Tale of Two Cities) and his work has been cited multiple times as Critic’s Pick (TimeOutNY) and Voice Choice (The Village Voice).
Will Pomerantz is the Associate Artistic Director of Bay Street Theater.
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Amanda Kristen Nichols, Ari Brand. Photo: Lenny Stucker/ LennyStucker.com.
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Bay Street Theater & 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. We serve as a social and cultural gathering place, an educational resource, and a home for a community of artists.
For information or to purchase a 2016 Mainstage Season subscription or single tickets, log on to www.baystreet.org or call the Box Office at 631-725-9500, 11 am to Showtime daily.
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BASIC FACTS: "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" is on view through July 24, 2016 at Bay Street Theater. Tickets can be purchased here.
Talkback Tuesdays are held each Tuesday and feature the cast in conversation with special guests. On Tuesday, July 5, 2016, the Talkback features special guest Rabbi Daniel N. Geffen from Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor. The Rabbi will discuss his reactions to the play with the cast and will also talk about his childhood in the South during the time when the play is set.
Student Sunday Matinees are offered for the Mainstage Season. High school and college students can receive one free admission for the 2 p.m. Sunday performances of "The Last Night of Ballyhoo." Student ID must be shown.
Bay Street Theater is located at 1 Bay Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. www.baystreet.org.
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