Guild Hall is home to the historic John Drew Theater, with a gorgeous jewel box proscenium stage that has hosted a veritable who’s who of 20th century theatrical luminaries since its inception in 1931.
John Drew, a celebrated thespian and reigning lion of the Barrymore clan, chose East Hampton as his summer home. He so charmed the citizens of the town that they dedicated the theater posthumously in his honor.
The Theater enchants audiences with its octagonal shape and blue and white striped tent-like ceiling that sweeps up to a chandelier of glass balloons.
But it’s not just the interior that captivates audiences; it is the magic of what happens on stage. World-class performers include such entertainers as Academy Award winning actress Mercedes Ruehl, comedienne Joy Behar, performance artist Laurie Anderson and Robert Wilson, as well as author and playwright Wendy Wasserstein, cabaret stars Andrea Marcovicci and Michael Feinstein and jazz greats such as Earl Klugh and Regina Carter.
Like the Guild Hall Museum, the John Drew Theater will continue to ignite the imagination, curiosity and wonder of our community, moving us forward into a new and exciting chapter of our history.
The recently renovated theater retains its original 1931 charm while providing state-of-the-art technical standards. The restoration includes new AV and mechanical systems, a new sound system, new digitized lighting controls, motorized rigging lighting, and upgraded technical booths.
