Guild Hall To Open Its Theater With New Enhancements and a New Name

Guild Hall is nearing completion of its two-year capital improvements project and is expecting to reopen the last phase of the project — the theater — in July. A collaboration with Peter Pennoyer Architects and theatrical consultants Apeiro Design, the space, which throughout its life has been known as the John Drew Theater, will reopen with enhancements, upgrades and a new name — the Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater.

“Guild Hall announces the new Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater in honor of a landmark gift from the Morgan family that has enabled this complete transformation,” reads a page in the organization’s recently published summer program guide. “Our beautiful performance space now operates at the highest level of technology and comfort, providing exceptional experiences for artists and audiences.”

According to Guild Hall, those enhancements include wider, more comfortable seating with greater row-to-row depth, a steeper rake for improved sightlines a new flexible social space at the rear of the theater, an audio lift system for improved sound for all sorts of art forms, advanced lighting and video systems, a remote-controlled camera system for livestreaming and recording, a relocated control booth and new lighting positions in the balcony.

In a statement, Hilarie Morgan, a Guild Hall trustee, and her husband, Mitchell, said, “We’ve had meaningful and inspiring experiences in this theater, and we hope this gift will ensure it remains a special place for future generations.”

When Guild Hall was built in 1931, the John Drew Theater was a memorial tribute to a well-known 19th and early 20th century stage actor who spent his summers in East Hampton. Guild Hall has said that it will acknowledge Drew with tribute signage and will name the senior staff position in the theater the John Drew director of performing arts in honor of this history.

To celebrate the reopening of the theater, Guild Hall will host a benefit concert with Emmy- and Tony-winning actor and singer Billy Porter, on Friday, July 12, at 8 p.m. For details, visit guildhall.org.