A May Weekend of New Works at Bay Street

‘It’s not about tech. It’s not about staging,” said Scott Schwartz, the artistic director at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. “It’s about the words.”

Mr. Schwartz was describing the most basic premise behind Title Wave, the theater’s fifth annual New Works Festival, which will include readings of three new plays and a musical from May 4 through May 6. All shows are still in development. 

For theater lovers, the festival offers a unique opportunity to glimpse the developing work of young playwrights and musical composers, brought to life by  experienced directors. It is also a reminder of the role that regional theater often plays in nurturing innovative new work and developing artists. And it’s all for free.

As is customary, the festival will kick off on May 4, at 8 p.m. with a new musical. “Medea,” written by the Kilbanes, a husband and wife theatrical rock band duo, will be directed by Reggie D. White, an actor, singer, and teaching artist based in New York City.

“It’s a folk-rock musical,” explained Mr. Schwartz, that tells the backstory of the mythological sorceress and murderess. “In this tabloid culture of ours,” he said smiling, “it’s like the facts behind the fake news.”

Mr. White, the director, said the Kilbanes, who are based in the San Francisco area, first told him of their idea in 2013, but it was only last year that he mentioned it to Will Pomerantz, Bay Street’s assistant artistic director. 

“I happened to anecdotally mention it and they all got really excited,” he said, and added that even “Hamilton” took seven years and a ton of workshops before it got produced. “It does take a village to raise a play and we are so grateful to Bay Street for their support.”

On May 5 at 2 p.m., Stephen Hamilton, will direct take on “A Seagull in the Harbor,” written by Emily Mann, who is perhaps the most accomplished, in terms of stage success, of the four writers. Ms. Mann is an award-winning director and playwright as well as the most accomplished, in terms of stage success, of the four writers. Ms. Mann is an award-winning director and playwright as well as the longstanding artistic director of the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, N.J. In 1994, she won the Tony Award for outstanding regional theater. 

But even the most established artists, explained Mr. Schwartz, have to continue to develop their work.

Originally titled “A Seagull in the Hamptons” and a modern version of Chekhov’s “The Seagull,” Ms. Mann decided to make it even more specific to Sag Harbor and renamed it “A Seagull in the Harbor.”

“This one is so exciting,” said Bay Street’s artistic director. “It features a multicultural cast and it’s inspired by Eastville, Sag Harbor’s historically African-American community.”

On May 5 at 8 p.m., “The Prompter,” a comedy by Wade Dooley, will be showcased. Directed by Mr. Schwartz, the play was submitted by an agent, and Mr. Schwartz said he didn’t get around to reading it until two months ago, when he couldn’t put it down. 

With unabashed enthusiasm, he described it as “insider-y about the theater and bitchy in a fun way.” The story is based on Mr. Dooley’s real-life experiences as a prompter — that person who stands offstage and feeds actors their lines when necessary. However, this story is fictional, stressed Mr. Schwartz. Mr. Dooley, who was most recently a cast member of “Jersey Boys” on tour, will play the eponymous role in this behind-the-scenes look at the relationship between a prompter and an aging, world-famous actress. 

Finally, on May 6 at 3 p.m., audiences will have an opportunity to see “Eight Nights,” written by Jennifer Maisel and directed Mr. Pomerantz.

“It’s a beautiful play about survival,” said Mr. Schwartz, “about a Holocaust survivor who comes to America and struggles with the loss of her family.”

This is the first year that Bay Street has involved its patrons council, composed of certain Bay Street donors, in the decision-making process of the festival by having them read scripts and provide feedback. The council really sparked to “Eight Nights,” said Mr. Schwartz.

As always, there will be a talkback session following each show as well as audience feedback, which is beneficial to the creative team and allows the audience to be on the inside of the creative process.

Scripts from previous festivals have gone on to full productions at Bay Street and around the country. “Some of these diamonds aren’t so rough,” said Mr. Schwartz.

All readings are free, but tickets are required, and the programs usually sell out. Tickets can be reserved at baystreet.org.