BROADWAY BY THE SEA

Hamptons Summer Songbook returns to East Hampton

There is something unmistakably special about summer on the East End. The days are bright and unhurried, the evenings stretch a little longer, and suddenly every gathering feels as though it should come with music. For summer 2026, LTV Studios in East Hampton is once again giving those evenings a soundtrack with the return of Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea, an intimate concert series that brings the sophistication of cabaret and the spirit of Broadway to the Hamptons.

Produced by Donna Rubin and LTV’s Creative Director Josh Gladstone, the series has become one of the East End’s most distinctive cultural offerings. It is not simply a lineup of performances; it is an experience. Inside LTV’s industrial television studio, the space is transformed into a warm, atmospheric venue where state-of-the-art lighting and sound meet café-style seating, modular staging and the gleam of a Baby Grand piano. The result is a setting that feels polished but personal, refined yet relaxed—an ideal match for summer nights by the sea.

What makes Hamptons Summer Songbook so appealing is its sense of intimacy. These are not distant, formal concerts where the audience feels removed from the artist. Instead, the series offers an up-close encounter with performers who understand how to tell a story through song. Cabaret, at its best, is about connection. It is music with personality, wit, memory and emotional detail. Broadway brings its own power and grandeur, but in this setting, even the biggest songs can feel immediate and deeply human.

The 2026 season opens on Sunday, June 28, with an especially exciting season premiere starring Norm Lewis, one of Broadway’s most celebrated leading men. His appearance sets a high note for a summer filled with acclaimed performers and thoughtfully curated musical evenings.

On July 11, Ann Hampton Callaway brings Here’s to Life to the series, promising an evening shaped by warmth, artistry and the kind of expressive vocal storytelling that has made her a favorite among cabaret and jazz audiences. The following week, on July 18, Klea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch celebrate one of the great American songwriters with Dreaming of a Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael, offering audiences a chance to revisit a timeless catalog through two performers known for elegance, humor and musical intelligence. 

The season continues on July 25 with Beyond Blue Moon: Before the Broken Hart, starring Eric Yves Garcia, Maria Abous and David Alpern, followed on August 1 by A Swell-Egant, Elegant Party, featuring Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, hosted and produced by Laurence Maslon. The title alone suggests the kind of polished, stylish evening that feels perfectly at home in the Hamptons—smart, musical and just a bit sparkling.

Later in August, the series offers a cabaret celebration with Hey, old friend! A Cabaret Jubilee on August 22, starring KT Sullivan, Mark Nadler, Christine Pedi and Stephanie Pope. The next evening, August 23, brings a flavorful turn with Pamela Morgan in What’s Cooking? Where Every Song Comes with a Little Spice. The season closes on August 29 with Donna McKechnie in A Musical Memoir, an especially fitting finale from a performer whose career is deeply woven into Broadway history.

Part of the charm of Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea is that it fits so naturally into the rhythm of an East End summer. One can imagine arriving after a day at the beach, lingering over dinner nearby, then stepping into LTV Studios for an evening of song that feels both world-class and wonderfully close. It is sophisticated without being stiff, intimate without feeling small, and rooted in the kind of live performance that reminds audiences why music still matters most when it is shared in the room. 

 

Tickets for the 2026 season are available through LTV Studios. The June 28 season opening event includes a reception, with VIP Café front row reserved seating and a drink ticket priced at $200, and general admission priced at $150 in advance or $160 at the door. For all other summer performances, VIP Café front row reserved seating with a drink ticket is $120 in advance or $125 at the door, while general admission is $80 in advance or $85 at the door.

Beyond the individual performances, Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea speaks to something larger about summer on the East End. The Hamptons have long been associated with beaches, restaurants, galleries and social gatherings, but evenings like these add another layer to the season. They give audiences a reason to slow down, sit close to the music and experience performers in a setting where every lyric, pause and story has room to breathe.  

That intimacy is part of the appeal. In a smaller room, cabaret and Broadway standards take on a different kind of power. Familiar songs can feel newly discovered, while personal stories from the stage create the feeling of being invited into a conversation rather than simply watching a show. For longtime theater lovers, it is a chance to see accomplished artists in a refreshingly personal environment. For newer audiences, it is an inviting introduction to a musical tradition built on craft, charm and emotional connection.  

In that sense, Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea is more than a summer entertainment option. It is a reminder that live performance still has the ability to transform a night out into something memorable, elegant and deeply human. 

Dates, performers and program titles are subject to change, but one thing seems certain: Hamptons Summer Songbook by the Sea is poised to make summer evenings in East Hampton sing.
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