Steinbeck Festival Runs 5/1-4 at Bay Street Theater

Bay Street Theatre has announced its Second Annual Steinbeck Festival in Sag Harbor on May 1-4, in conjunction with the annual celebration held by the National Steinbeck Center based in Salinas, California. Activities to honor John Steinbeck's contributions to our community will feature events including 3 days of films, a VIP waterfront cocktail party where guests will enjoy short boat excursions to view Steinbeck's home from the water, and the Second Annual "Travels with Charley" Dog Walk on Sunday, May 4 at 11 a.m., in partnership with the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. Jill Rappaport, an award-winning animal advocate and correspondent for NBC News and the TODAY show, will serve as celebrity host at both the cocktail party and the Dog Walk. Proceeds benefit Bay Street Theatre and 10% of the Dog Walk proceeds will go to the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. The all-inclusive FESTIVAL VIP PASS for the weekend is $150. Participation in the Dog Walk is $35. A film-only pass is available for $30 and individual films are $10 each.

"We wanted to do something a little different to honor the National Steinbeck Festival here in Sag Harbor," says Tracy Mitchell, Executive Director of Bay Street Theatre, "We are thrilled to build on the excitement of last year's event and we thank Jill Rappaport and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, along with our sponsors and partners including the Port of Egypt, the John Jermain Memorial Library, Dan's Papers Literary Prize Contest, Roman Roth at Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Dr. Barry Browning at the Sag Harbor Veterinary Clinic, and the Sag Harbor community for joining us as we commemorate this Pulitzer-prize winning author.

For admission to the film portion only, call the Box Office at 631-725-9500 to buy a $30 all-movies pass. Tickets for individual films will be $10 at the door.

VIP Cocktail Reception Saturday, May 3, 5 - 7 p.m. at a private waterfront estate. Available with the $150 all-weekend pass ONLY. Limited!

In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of "The Grapes of Wrath," the cocktail reception will be hosted by Jill Rappaport and is sponsored in part by Wölffer Estate Vineyard. Wölffer-partner and winemaker Roman Roth will be on hand pouring his namesake vintage, "The Grapes of Roth." Weather permitting, boat rides will be provided by Port of Egypt and will take guests out to see the Steinbeck home and writing studio from the water.

Host Jill Rappaport says, "I can't think of a better way to spend a springtime Hampton's evening, than enjoying a short boat excursion to view John Steinbeck's home from the water in Sag Harbor. And of course the 2nd Annual 'Travels with Charley' dog walk the next morning is the so special, with our pooches on parade. I have 6-all of whom were once strays, so helping hands are welcome! Everyone should come join us for a fun stroll with our fur angels! "

Call the Administration Office at 631-725-0818 to reserve your spot.

"Travels with Charlie" Dog Walk in partnership with the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Sunday, May 4, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- complimentary with the $150 all-weekend pass. Participation in the Dog Walk only is $35, payable at sign-in on Sunday, May 4.

Registration/pledge forms are available at www.baystreet.org or at the Box Office. Participants are encouraged to pick up the form in advance in order to raise funds from family and friends. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Bay Street Theatre. Dogs and their owners will walk from the Bay Street Theatre to Haven's Beach and back, finishing at the theatre with a "Bones and Bagels" reception. A Grand Prize -- a swag bag of gifts for dog and owner from Harbor Pets-will include two tickets to one of Bay Street Theatre's Mainstage shows.

The 2nd annual "Travels with Charley" Dog Walk pays honor to John Steinbeck, who in 1960 set off from his home in Sag Harbor with his French poodle, Charley, to drive cross country. He would travel alone, stay at campgrounds and talk to the locals along the way. Steinbeck's book-length account of his journey, "Travels with Charley," became a best-seller.

Call the Bay Street Theatre Administration Office at 631-725-0818 to reserve your all-weekend pass of $150, which includes the Festival's cocktail reception on Saturday, May 4, the film festival, and the Travels with Charley Dog Walk. For a film pass ($30) or dog-walk pledge form, call or visit the Box Office at 631-725-9500.

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